I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. I did look forward to learning about the ancient Egyptian pyramids, artifacts, excavations, and mummies. It was refreshing and exciting to know about the first women who were granted permission to excavate these sites and how involved and dedicated these women were in this field of exploration. Their successes and struggles were believable, and Sheppard put a lot of time and effort into her research in writing this book. It was also clear to me that she wanted to impart her enthusiasm for this subject and her admiration for the determination and drive of the characters. However, I found the storyline was often too academic, causing me to lose my way in this story with all the details about their work and personal lives. I was left bored at times and lost in the order of things.

3.5 STARS

As someone who is as interested in Egyptology and archeology as I am reading about women who have pushed to the footnotes of history for their significant roles in any given field, Women in the Valley of the Kings was an enticing read.

Separated into distinct sections focusing on the lives and careers of several different women, many of whom were members of the LGBTQ+ community, this work of non-fiction is almost entirely biographical. It is extremely well researched, and the women chosen are wholly unique individuals who blazed a path forward on their own during a time when women had very few rights and freedoms. They found their way in the world through a combination of intelligence, inheritance, and fortune at birth order where the expectations of marriage were not heavily placed upon them.

Although I found the book to be informative, it is really more geared toward academics of women's studies or Egyptology history. It is full of facts with little to no narrative flourish, although the author clearly did her due diligence in researching and put her heart into this book. Due to the nature of the advanced reader's copy that I was supplied, I found the lack of photos to be frustrating, however due to the extensive citations, I was easily able to look them up on the internet and it made immersion in the book much easier. The masses might be slightly bored, especially if they are expecting this to be more like Kate Moore's Radium Girls, but anyone who has enough of an interest in forgotten women of history should not pass this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kathleen Sheppard for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age by Kathleen Sheppard is a well researched work of nonfiction. This book was packed with the history of Egyptian archaeology and gives credit to some amazing women who helped pioneer this work and some who even called Egypt home. Readers who enjoy Egyptian history should enjoy this book. It can be hard to read because it is not a continuous text. Instead, it is a series of stories about this time period. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

A page turner about some truly fabulous women. Ms. Sheppard has penned a wonderful look at the lives of some truly memorable women. I hope people get a chance to read this wonderful book. 5 Stars !!

Women in the Valley of the Kings is a nonfiction book about the history of Egyptology and the impact that women have had on the field. I've been interested in Ancient Egypt and Egyptology for years but most of the people you hear about are the famous men and their findings. I didn't realize how many women were involved in the field and how their finds and research impacted others. I would recommend this to those studying Egyptology and those who have an interest in the field.

Archeology in Egypt has completely evolved over the past century. At one time, anyone and everyone could plunder a historical site and bring home ancient artifacts with no regard for preservation. This free-for-all was slowly tempered down, and most if not all historical sites and excavations are now under strict control.
What Ms. Sheppard brings to light with this informative book are the unknown women who played a big role in respecting archeological sites, the study of Egyptian history, and the documentation that helped build our knowledge of ancient Egypt. During what was dubbed “The Golden Age of Exploration”, a few women were instrumental in discovering, preserving, and documenting history, but they were never given the credit. Theirs was a tough world to live in; the heavy clothing and cloaks they had to wear in the heat of Egypt, the look and ostracization by the public for these ladies with messy hair, covered in dust, doing what no ladylike woman had any business doing.
With pages of footnotes, hours of study, and eloquent writing, Ms. Sheppard shines a light on these early archeologists, giving them their rightful place in history.
Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is July 16, 2024.

Women in the Valley of the Kings
By Kathleen Sheppard

Anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt – the pyramids, the temples, the tombs and treasures discovered by such "great" men as Howard Carter (Tut's tomb) and Napoleon (the Rosetta stone) - knows that the major finds were excavated by predominantly western men. English, French, Americans and others. They pillaged the sites and took many of the treasures out of Egypt to prevent them from falling into the hands of the so-called barbaric Egyptians. This was a travesty that Egyptologists and the Egyptian people are still today trying to rectify.

There arose a group of female Egyptologists from the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, who did much to mitigate the harm done by the slapdash methods employed by their male counterparts in their treatment of the digs and the artifacts recovered. The women – such as Lucie Duff Gordon and Maggie Benson – initially came to Egypt seeking a cure for lung problems like tuberculosis in the dry desert climate. But, while there, they fell under the spell of the ancient sites. They and other women who followed them managed to take things in hand, cataloging the finds, repairing what was damaged and finding homes in which to preserve the antiquities. Without their efforts, much of what was discovered might have been lost. The greatness of the male Egyptologists rest to a large degree on the work of these women. This book is a tribute to those generally forgotten women who contributed so much.

In this incredible work of historical biography, Kathleen Sheppard brings women Egyptologists from the nineteenth century to life in this incredible book. Long forgotten by history and by the Egyptology they helped create, Sheppard reintroduces these women and their contributions to Egyptology to her readers. Breaking the status quo, challenging society, and making incredible historical discoveries, women like Amelai Edwards, Jenny Lane, and Marianne Brocklehurst are more than just Egyptologists; they rebel against gender roles, heterosexuality, ideas of female education and travel, and much more during their lifetimes. Sheppard manages to keep these women’s stories separate from each other (until they intersect, of course), and the wealth of historical information and documentation she draws upon adds to the detail found in this book. Incredibly hard to put down, Sheppard explores the long-lasting and far-reaching contributions women made to Egyptology and to women’s lives in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in this book, making it relevant elsewhere in British history. Her prose is incredibly straightforward and the language is not complicated, making this an approachable book for several types of readers. Incredibly detailed, well-written, and entertaining, this book was fascinating and so hard to put down -- definitely worth it!

Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age by Kathleen Sheppard highlights the overlooked contributions of pioneering women who ventured into Egyptology during the Gilded Age. From early travelers like Amelia Edwards to trailblazers such as Maggie Benson, the first woman to excavate in Egypt, these women faced oppression and exclusion but ultimately paved the way for future generations. Their successes not only challenged the male-dominated narrative of Egyptian exploration but also reshaped the field of Egyptology forever.

I’ve been fascinated by Ancient Egypt and Egyptology for some time. I’m also interested in the Gilded Age, so I thought this would be an interesting combination of interests. Parts of it were, but I was expecting more details on the work these women did.

There was an odd focus on their personal lives, and I did not enjoy the details of their relationships/romances/sexuality. Diaries are mentioned and occasionally quoted, but I would have liked to have seen more.

Overall, it was interesting but I don’t feel as though I learned more than I already knew.

In “Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age,” Kathleen Sheppard reveals the pivotal yet overlooked role women made to the field of Egyptology. Long before the “rockstars” like Howard Carter, many women pioneered the field, including Amelia Edwards, Maggie Benson, Margaret Murray, and others. Sheppard’s book details the challenges these women faced and their significant achievements, including groundbreaking excavations and academic advancements. By focusing on their stories, Sheppard offers a compelling revision of the traditional Egyptology narrative, celebrating the courage and expertise of these trailblazing women who profoundly influenced the study of ancient Egypt.

“Women in the Valley of the Kings” is organized into seven chapters, each focusing on a different woman who helped develop the field of Egyptology. The chapters are arranged chronologically, providing readers with a structured narrative that highlights the evolving contributions of these trailblazing women. There is some overlap and interactions between of the women, which Sheppard notes. Each chapter really dives into the personal experiences, challenges, and achievements of its subject, offering a rich and detailed account of their impact on the field. Sheppard’s thorough research and in-depth exploration reveal the thankless roles these women played in the academic and archaeological fields.

The book is undoubtedly a valuable addition to both Egyptology and women's history, some readers might find certain chapters a bit dry, with a tone that can occasionally feel more formal than engaging. Despite this, Sheppard's expertise and dedication to uncovering these untold stories shine through. Her work is a compelling testament to the resilience and accomplishments of these early female Egyptologists. For anyone with an interest in Egyptology or the contributions of women in academia and archaeology, “Women in the Valley of the Kings” is a great fit.

The author tells the history of strong women, many of whom come to Egypt for the climate to help with medical issues. While in Egypt, they visit excavations, to study and learn and return to Egypt to begin their own explorations. Women, in this time period, are often given tasks during excavations that have to do with copying/drawing some of the wall paintings; organizing and categorizing finds, keeping records.
. These women were rarely credited with the infinite work and record keeping that were used by male archeologists to further their work.
This book tells their story as it should have originally been told.

Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age
Author: Kathleen Sheppard
(This review is based on an ARC sent to me by NetGalley)
This is the never-before-told story of the women Egyptologists who paved the way of exploration in Egypt and created the basis for Egyptology.
During the so-called Golden Age of Exploration, there were women working and exploring before Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut. Before men even conceived of claiming the story for themselves, women were working in Egypt to lay the groundwork for all future exploration.
Kathleen Sheppard brings the untold stories of these women back into this narrative. Sheppard begins with some of the earliest European women who ventured to Egypt as travelers: Amelia Edwards, Jenny Lane, and Marianne Brocklehurst. Their travelogues, diaries and maps chronicled a new world for the curious. In the vast desert, Maggie Benson, the first woman granted permission to excavate in Egypt, met Nettie Gourlay, the woman who became her lifelong companion. They battled issues of oppression and exclusion and, ultimately, are credited with excavating the Temple of Mut.
Emma Andrews' success as a patron and archaeologist helped to pave the way for Margaret Murray to teach. Margaret's work in the university led to the artists Amice Calverley's and Myrtle Broome's ability to work on site at Abydos, creating brilliant reproductions of tomb art, and to Kate Bradbury's and Caroline Ransom's leadership in critical Egyptological institutions.
The women ended up making a legacy for themselves and for the women who came after them and for the discipline of Egyptology.

As a big fan of the fictional Lady Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, I was really interested to find out about her real-life counterparts. While the majority of the women highlighted here were operating in administrative or scholarly roles rather than "active" on-site exploration activities, this really illustrated just how vital these women were to the advancement of Egyptology as a fledgling science. My favorite chapter was that of Caroline Ransom Williams, the first woman to get a PhD in Egyptology, and who was the "assistant" curator of the Met who oversaw the installation of the Temple of Perneb while the official (male) curator was off playing in the sand. Similarly, I enjoyed learning about Margaret Alice Murray, who came to University College London to study Egyptology, determined that she'd have to learn on her own because the existing instruction was inadequate, and very shortly ending up running the entire Egyptology department and developing its curriculum, while the so-called "head", Flinders Petrie, was off in Egypt. And of course it's the mens' names who persist through popular history, even though they could not have accomplished half of what they did without women rounding up funding and taking care of things at home. I appreciated the chance to learn more about the women behind the scenes who helped Egyptology become what it is.

This book just wasn't for me. I only finished it because I kept hoping it would get better and it just never did. I thought this would be a fascinating read and instead [for me], it was a jumbed, borderline [at times] incoherent story that seemed short of archeology/egyptology and more about money, travel [and where they stayed and what they wore etc], and relationships. It was so jumbled in parts that there were moments I wasn't sure just who was being talked about [not to mention stories of the women, some who had died in a previous chapter[s], wove through many of the "current" chapters, leading to some serious confusion on my part] and ended up just not really caring much anymore about the story.

The narrator for this book was also problematic [I was able to get the audio from Scribd] for me; her flat delivery of this book didn't add anything to an already problematic book [for me] and her constant mispronunciation of people and places just about drove me insane [and that is already a short trip y'all].

It is rare that I am so disappointed by a nonfiction book, but this was not what I was anticipating and just fell completely flat for me.

I was invited to read/review this book by the publisher, St. Martin' Press, and I thank them, the author and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
This was enjoyable and important, but slow for several reasons. One is the content. I like detail in my niche nonfiction, but the pacing of this book, explaining somethings repeatedly while in other places dropping a term that doesn't get fully explained for a few paragraphs or pages made it difficult to follow. The order was also confusing. The author seemed to be going chronologically until she didn't, which means I had to keep going back to check things.
This is still a good read. It's always nice to see people who have been overlooked get a bit of their due.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book.

Lucy Duff Gordon travelled to Egypt in the mid 1800s for her health. While there her letters to her husband and mother addressed the culture and customs. These were later compiled into her book Letters From Egypt, which inspired a number of women to travel and explore. Kathleen Sheppard uses the travelogues and journals of a number of those women, who were barred from training and education at home but made significant contributions to Egyptology. While history focuses on the men who made a name for themselves excavating Egypt’s treasures, Sheppard tells the stories of women like Amelia Edwards, known as the Godmother of Egyptology and a founder of the Egypt Exploration Society. The looting of Egypt’s treasures by both the men and women for museums and their private collections is also not ignored. This was not a quick read and is filled with the details of their personal lives as well as their achievements. Sheppard’s material is well researched and fascinating to read, making this a book that will appeal to history buffs and readers with an interest in Egypt. I would like to thank. EtGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book.

This was a great read. I had never heard of any of these women and to read the amazing things they did. Wow. I was completely impressed by the things these women were amazing.

I highly recommend this book.

A survey of female Gilded Age Egyptologists that will better serve those very new to this corner of history than those coming in with a solid amount of background knowledge.

This is well-researched and the author’s enthusiasm for the material is notable, but I disagree with other reviewers who felt this was too academic, because to me it wasn’t academic enough.

Much has been published about most of the people mentioned in the book. There’s not much here that will be new to you if you’ve delved into Gilded Age Egyptology before. Amelia Edwards is a legend about whom much has been written. She herself published extensively and her work is widely available. Emma Andrews is also a very familiar figure if you’ve read up on Theodore Davis at all. Again, nothing found here is really anything new.

This also reads pretty slowly for narrative nonfiction, and needed a lot of editing, as it’s heavy on anecdotal biographical information. I have no real objection to extras like that being included to create a more complete portrait, but here it comes at the cost of the more academic information specific to the actual Egyptology and details of the exceptional scholarship and archaeological contributions made by these women.

This was a good idea that didn’t quite come together the way it needed to in order to be a successful academic offering on this subject. But if you’re just looking for a toe-dip into this era of archaeology, it’s a great primer on the women who were instrumental to the effort.

In this non-fiction book, Kathleen Sheppard brings to light the lives and work of the women who went to Egypt and worked there as archaeologists, fund raisers, artists, writers, mostly without recognition. These women traveled to Egypt and began the work there before the famous men arrived. So this is the other half of the story. Now I’m ready to go to Egypt myself!

I really appreciated what Sheppard was trying to do with this book by highlighting female egyptologists, but due to the lack of information available I think there was just too much filler of other details. While I think it’s important to understand know the women beyond their contributions, I just felt like there was too much of their personal lives and not enough dedicated to their work, until towards the end. I also would have loved to book to be chronological instead of by female Egyptologist! Overall it was interesting and I did learn a lot!