Product Description

Henry Salt was one of the most important figures in early 19th century travel, archaeology and diplomacy. Celebrated for his expeditions to Abyssinia, Salt later became British Consul-General in Egypt, where he played an important diplomatic role. However, it is for his involvement in the re-discovery of ancient Egypt that he is best remembered. This study is an appreciation of this significant figure and brings to life a fascinating period in the history of Egypt and Abyssinia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29632 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

The Mail on Sunday, 1st April 2001
A fascinating and meticulously researched biography, offering a wonderful insight into Egypt in the 19th century.

The Spectator, 5th May 2001
Vivid and engaging ... fills in a great chunk of lost history, and is a readable blend of scope and scholarship... Indispensable.

Antiquity, 75 (2001)
Enjoyable account of Salt's ventures, explaining how he assembled a collection of Egyptian antiquities, some now at the British Museum.

Customer Reviews

A pacy and readable account of a fascinating man
Henry Salt has not been credited in modern times for the important role he played in the exploration of Abyssinia and the early archaeology of Egypt. He mixed with an extraordinary group of characters in Egypt, many involved in the race to collect antiquities to take back to Europe. This first biography of Salt proceeds at a fast pace, is packed full of amusing anecdotes, has a true feel for the period, and portrays Salt as a man with surprisingly modern attitudes towards issues such as slavery. I would have liked a bit more discussion on the ethics of collecting antiquities, but the authors do comment that we cannot judge 19th-century antiquarians from a 21st-century viewpoint. In all a very well-written and interesting read.

Not as dry as the desert where he spent much of his life
This book provides a fascinating and personal insight into the life and character of a much-neglected figure of early 19th-century travel, Egyptology and diplomacy.

While this biography will appeal to those with an interest in Egyptology, it is the detective work of the authors who dug deep to uncover (from the sands of time) the scandals- yes, it seems that despite diplomacy being his bread and butter, when it came to more intimate matters diplomacy went out the window!

A case in point is his getting a slave girl pregnant and later, his 'stealing' a beautiful Italian girl of 17 away from an Austrian merhcant to whom she had been sent to marry. This, understandably, caused an international quarrel, only settled when Salt was made to pay the costs of her shipment to Egypt!

So, what may look like a dull read, is nothing of the sort. Rather, it is surprisingly racey and envelopes the reader in the dusty and classic atmosphere of a time long past And Salt himself comes across as very much human, fallible and a like-able sort of chap.