I’ll admit I don’t know a whole lot about the history of Egyptology; I do know that Howard Carter is famous for discovering the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun, and that his sponsor was Lord Carnarvon. And I’ve certainly seen my share of Egyptian artifacts in various museums.

But Women in the Valley of the Kings taught me about how women made invaluable contributions to Egyptology in the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s. The author makes the point that, as with pretty much every other important endeavor in history, men are given much of the credit for all the famous work that got done, but women’s names, voices and work are left out of the stories.

Kathleen Sheppard rectifies that oversight in Egyptology in this book. She makes her way through the contributions and stories of a number of women in seven sections. The final section focuses on Caroline Ransom Williams, whose work came most recently and is a kind of culmination of the stories.

Sheppard shares all that she can from any extant information left behind, which all too often is sadly not nearly enough. Perhaps in part because of that lack, or perhaps the writer’s skill in weaving narrative nonfiction, too much of the book felt fairly dry to me. I had to push my way through; the book felt more like a reading assignment for a class so I could learn about history, rather than a fascinating examination of important people.

I’d definitely recommend Women in the Valley of the Kings for those who are Egyptology buffs, but maybe others wouldn’t find it compelling.

Well-research and highly informative. This very much reads academically, but I appreciated it. I have spent years studying ancient history, and I am always excited to learn more and to find works that add to the discussion especially for women. I felt the biographical details were well written and I can see how this work will appeal to readers of ancient history, biographies, women's history, and while it can be a bit more difficult for a person new to the topic, I can see where this could even be a place for those readers to begin their journey into a study of ancient Egyptian history through the lens of Western archeologists.

This book was an interesting look at a group of people often ignored by history books- women who explored Egypt. The history books would have believe it was only men who went.

A highly recommended book for anyone interested in Egyptology and the beginnings of archeological work there. So many women contributed great things and never got the praise or recognition they deserved. This story shines the light on these forgotten women who worked so hard to further knowledge. Their motives were many but they all had a deep love and respect for what they were doing. A new prospective on an old science worthy of mention. Ahighly enjoyable story.

An educational read about the history of Egyptology especially how women played a key role in the field. It is well researched and well written; it is a dry read and felt like I was reading a thesis.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a necessary book, expanding the popular history of Egyptology to focus on the women who participated, funded digs, wrote about their findings, and contributed to archaeology. It's a group biography, focusing on seven different individual or pairs of Egyptologists, beginning with Amelia Edwards and her contemporaries, and concluding with Caroline Ransom Williams. It's a lot of people to keep track of, because each woman had companions, employed diggers and multiple staff, and traveled with friends or family, but Sheppard does a good job of sorting out the extensive list. The book feels like an introduction, and I did find myself wishing multiple people had books solely focused on them so I could learn about them in more depth.

I appreciated the way Sheppard pointed out who was left out of the record (especially the perspective and accounts of Egyptians themselves), even as she expanded it, and the way she reminded us how far early archaeology was from current best practices. This is very much a story of privilege (although I enjoyed her inclusion of those less moneyed whenever possible, especially the information about Amelia Edwards's companion Lucy Renfrew's maid Jenny Lane, one of the women I wished we would learn more about).

I did wish the different chapters were more interwoven, emphasizing more of the connections between the different Egyptologists. Even though I enjoyed reading the book, I found it a little too easy to wander off between chapters and try to find out more about side questions it raised. Each chapter is relatively self-contained, though, which made it possible to pick up the book again and follow the thread.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc. My opinions are all my own.

Sheppard presents a deep exploration of the role of key women in exploration and recovery of Ancient Egyptian history, often mentioned in passing, but never emphasized in history. Full of details about their obstacles and successes, the stories of these determined women round out the missing history. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed with the quality of the writing - often seemingly a summary of diary entries and letters rather than a true story telling and analysis. Interpretation often leant itself to “probably” and “might have,” couched in attempts to bring interest by attributing feelings to the women’s actions, such as fundraising efforts. This will be useful as a starting point for people interested in the history, but I believe it would be more interesting to have read excerpts from the primary sources with some intro and summary analysis to frame them.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this work.

It is always a pleasure to read “the rest of the story.” The history where the contributions of women are revealed and found to be just as significant as those of the handful of very famous men – along with a few women – who are always noted for discoveries and exploration and invention. Of course they all deserve to be acknowledged, but so do the women we are just starting to learn about in books like Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age. The time period they lived in, the Gilded Age, was enough of a hindrance with all its rules and customs and mores about what the proper place of women was and why they should stay in it. The women in this book, and I hope many more we have yet to learn of, pushed the boundaries.

Pushing the boundaries wasn’t simple. Most families didn’t want their mothers and sisters going off somewhere and exploring. Husbands wanted wives to stay home where they belonged. Grants, patronage and jobs were almost always given to the men. It was a hard road whether in the field or behind the scenes organizing and administering, making people aware of the treasures to be discovered and catalogued, and working very, very hard to ensure these treasures weren’t plundered but received the respect due them.

All of the women in the book are unique and interesting. Strong, stubborn, determined. Not always easy to get along with. Not always easily convinced. But they all had a laser focus on their goal: to be part of the uncovering and preserving of the wonders of Egypt. And they came up with unique, inventive ways to achieve that goal.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age via NetGalley. It is well written, well documented, balancing facts and personalities and resulting in a delightful, informative, education read that I highly recommend. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Unlike most of the stories related to the excavations in Egypt in the late nineteenth century, this one puts the woman who did a large part of the scut work front and center. In many cases it was the woman who spent months digging in the areas of the monuments of the Valley of the Kings while the "discoverers" went home to their acclaim and plaudits.

But the woman are the ones who stayed at the digs and made sure that the workers didn't disappear with the precious articles and made sure that the diggers were treated with dignity. It is a tribute to Shappard to have brought this all into the spotlight.

A great nonfiction read diving into the lives of women Egyptologists who worked through the Victorian and Gilded Age and in to the middle of the 20th century.

Sheppard acknowledges the colonialism inherent in the field of Egyptology, and the role these women played in it; it's an undeniable component of 19th and 20th century Egypt. But the women who worked alongside and even managed some of the more famous men also found themselves erased from history or confined to simple footnotes in scholarly citations. (It's hard for this historical romance reader not to think of The Countess Conspiracy where in her author's note, Courtney Milan says she was inspired in part by a footnote in a scientific paper that thanked the scientist's wife for what amounted to almost the entirety of the labor and work of the paper.)

The book is organized chronologically, with the understanding that not only did the field of Egyptology progress, but that the achievements of each of these women built upon one another. She highlights 11 specific women from Amelia Edwards and Marianne Brocklehurst in the 1890s - a queer couple!! - to Caroline Ransom Williams, who was an active academic from 1908 through her death in 1592 and had a PhD in a field where many of her predecessors were not even allowed undergraduate degrees. Most of the women highlighted were solidly middle class Brits, and many of them suffered from autoimmune diseases which sent them from the cold damp of England to the warm dry air of Egypt to recover, and give them energy that sparked their imaginations.

The book is written as a narrative, placing the reader in the time with each of the women. As a nonfiction style, this doesn't typically work for me, but it's a popular style that will draw many readers. As many of these women were erased or mentioned only in passing in academic papers, Sheppard pulls her research from their journals and correspondence, which paints fuller lives than the stark academic journals of the male Egyptologists alongside whom they worked and lived. Assiduously researched and with nearly 500 footnotes, Sheppard gives us an incredible history. The eARC did not have any of the images, but there are citations throughout, so pick this book up in print if you can! If you've ever watched The Mummy on repeat or memorized the lines of Amelia Peabody or Mr Impossible, this book is for you.

As a kid I dreamed of discovering the next great discovery in the sands under the Egyptian sun… as an adult, I’m still fascinated and intrigued in the treasures and intrigues of ancient Egypt and often find myself still longing for this escape.

Women in the Valley of the Kings by Kathleen Sheppard transported me back in time to the Gilded Age of Egyptology. Recoveries were being made on a regular basis fortune and fame was being dug out of the sands… and all the while I’ve been out to us many women are making their own dreams come true under the Egyptian sun!

Not only did I find the stories of these women who worked in all facets from site, coordination, funding, and promoting, to teaching the new art of Egyptology, I found myself walking in their shoes and experiencing their joys and tribulations.

Incredibly inspiring and educating - the golden age of Egyptology has never been brought to life in this fashion before as we finally get to see and recognize the work, there was never accredited or stolen by men.

As for the book itself, I found the introduction a little slow and Hard to get into with all the future characters being introduced… but once we get to the single chapters one or two women’s, I couldn’t put it down. I also really loved how this book was put together starting with her beginning Trailblazers, dipping their toe into Egypt and Egyptology, and each sequential woman adds another step to fully immerse themselves in the process by the end.

This is an excellent read, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone with an interest in this time. Who really wants to get a broader view and see what the other half of the sexes were doing during this amazing time!

Thanks to St Martin’s Press for my review copy.

A fascinating look at these smart interesting women.History written in a really engaging way.#netgalley #st.martins

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Women in the Valley of the Kings, The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age by Kathleen Sheppard from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press to read and give an honest review.

Currently in the process of studying ancient history with a particular focus on ancient Egypt, I found Kathleen Sheppard’s Women in the Valley of the Kings a fascinating look at early Egyptology and the role a dedicated, educated, and intelligent group of passionate female Egyptologists played. So meticulously researched and written this book touches upon these women’s professional and personal lives bringing them to life once again to inspire future generations of female Egyptologists.

Most students will hear about the male Egyptologists such as Jean-Francois Champollion, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie and perhaps the famous Egyptologist who found King Tutankhamun, Howard Carter little gets heard about the females who were trailblazers in their own right. Kathleen Sheppard introduces us to Amelia Edwards & Marianne Brocklehurst, Maggie Benson & Nettie Gourlay, Emma Andrews, Margaret Alice Murray, Kate Griffith & Emily Paterson, Myrtle Broome & Amice Calverley, and Caroline Ransom Williams many of whom were mere footnotes despite often funding the digs, teaching archaeology, as well as working on the front line.


I enjoyed this book and it definitely appears to be a labor of love, the authors’ passion for the subject evident in every sentence. Although at times this book felt a bit slow it had many amazing insights that pay homage to these incredible trailblazers. A wonderful read for both novice and informed Egyptology enthusiasts. I highly recommend!

Women in the Valley of the Kings by Kathleen Sheppard is the never-before-told story of the women Egyptologists who paved the way of exploration in Egypt and created the basis for Egyptology.
This was such a fascinating story! The information in this book is endless. And very well researched.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Kathleen Sheppard.s Women in the Valley of Kings will open readers’ eyes to the largely unknown role women played in Egyptology from the 1860s into the early decades of the 20th century.

I was especially surprised to learn how early women became Egyptologists by accident, falling into the work after traveling to the area for health reasons. Lady Lucie Duff Gordon, for example, arrived in Egypt at age 41, leaving behind a husband, children, and the cold, damp English weather for the dry Egyptian climate in hopes of curing her tuberculosis. Learning Arabic and teaching English to local children, she wrote detailed letters home depicting the Luxor area and culture. Her published letters inspired others, particularly women, to travel to Egypt. One such woman, Maggie Benson, also came for the “air cure,” not only for tuberculosis but also for anxiety issues. The first woman to apply for and receive permission to excavate the Temple of Mut near Luxor, Benson was joined a year later by Janet “Nettie” Gourley. Together the pair of women excavated and repaired statues from the temple, replaced them, and produced an 1899 book still considered important reading for archaeologists and anyone interested in Egyptology.

While Western men often fought Egyptians and even each other, competing for excavation permits and excavated objects to be removed from the country and sold in their home countries, for example to the British Museum, the women tended to work more closely with the Egyptians, preserving objects, using their artistic skills to replicate such things as tomb murals to be reproduced for scholarly purposes, writing, working on and off site, using their own money and raising money, teaching, working with museums and scholarly societies, and generally focusing on more constructive work than did the men, who were largely focused on excavating and selling.

In seven chapters, some focused on a single female Egyptologists and others on two, Sheppard describes the women’s work and the challenges they had to overcome in a male-dominated field, fills in personal background information, and points out how each individual’s contributions led to the subsequent women’s work.

While Sheppard'’s well-researched book should be read by students and professionals in the field, general readers interested in Egyptology, cultural history, and women’s history will find it easily accessible, educational, and even entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader egalley of this highly recommended new non-fiction study of women’s contribution to Egyptology.

What a beautiful story about this Women. These women have a lot of obstacles to face in their lives. How often they travel there in 1840 to 1920?
Egypt. They did this alone and they were very fascinated.By the pyramids and what was in them. Some came for health reasons and some came to Explore new ways of doing things. They travel by themselves which was very unusual for that time. They formed friendships with other women. Some of these women were married and they formed friendships with A n t h e r Woman. They were exploring these Pyramids in Egypt.And what's been very hard for them. This woman of courageous for their time because they couldn't even get degrees Some schools.. They also broke Social C Rules for that time.

I remember when I told people I wanted to be an Egyptologist and was rather tersely informed that it was a tough job, physically demanding, and required an imposing presence to keep the dig site in motion, and that most locals, even in the US, responded better to a man being in charge than a woman, and that was in the 1980s. With dreams fueled by King Tut's world tour and lines wrapping around The Met, all I saw when I entered were photos of men handling these glorious objects with their sandy, stubbly faces...none of which looked like me. The only women I saw in those photos were off in the background, slightly out of focus, in their pristine dresses with perfect hair and big hats to keep their faces shadowed, serving as the perfect compliment to the men in hyper focus. So, you can only imagine my delight when I saw a book that brought these women out of the shadows and into the full bright Egyptian Sunlight!

These are the stories of women who fought for their place in a man's world, and who contributed so much to the exhibitions that I still scamper to see like a little girl when I visit any museum. How wonderful it is to find sisters that I never knew, who could inspire me to look deeper and dust off my trowel, pick up a field guide, and get back to looking down to see what treasures I can find.

Kathleen Sheppard’s Women in the Valley of the Kings is a book that will show you, in vivid detail, the lives and contributions of women in so many different aspects of what it meant to dig and record finds in the Golden Age of Egyptology. Women who could be both archeologist and patron like Emma Andrews, whose skill, knowledge and dedication opened doors for so many who came after her. The incredible artists like Amice Calverley and Myrtle Broome whose precise paintings, sketches, and illustrations are still not only used by scholars to see what the tombs looked like as they were discovered, but are prize worthy works of art that many have in their homes today. And the women, like Margaret Murray, Kate Bradbury and Caroline Ransom, who worked at museums and universities, whose work was dedicated to cataloguing, processing, and curating the finds of those in the field. Their stories are a welcome and much needed new volume about the epic history that was co-written By Women In The Valley Of The Kings.

Women in the Valley of the Kings by Kathleen Sheppard is an ode to all the women who played a role directly or indirectly in the realm of Egytology.

The author's extensive research helps a reader go into the lives of these women. These women, in a lot of ways, were pioneers in a world of men. The author has included plenty of references to the women's families, their friends, spouses, and partners for a reader to get a complete picture of how and why Egypt was important to them.

I honestly was extremely intrigued by this book. I love anything Egypt and was expecting a grand adventure. I got some adventure but not what I expected. This book is more academic, like a lot of reviews state. There's a lot of names that I expected, but after a while, it was hard to keep up with all the information for me. I did enjoy the book, but at the same time, I wanted more of the actual Egyptian discovery. The best part for me was the discovery of tomb KV55 from the book.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for this book.

“Women in the Valley of the Kings” is the fascinating story of first women that explored Egypt and helped to define the study of Egyptology. These women, often overlooked, funded, participated in excavations, documented, and cataloged the ancient Egyptian tombs often along side, in the lead or behind the scenes of men during the Golden Age of Exploration.

Sheppard has crafted an incredibly researched and well structured account of the women that helped created the discipline of Egyptology. I found the writing, use of citations, and the structure of the book very accessible and loved how the stories flowed one to the other over time. I appreciated the connecting the dots and summary of these amazing women. This book will make you want to visit Egypt if you didn’t already want to and leave you googling for more information and looking up Nile River Cruise and Egyptian tours!

This book has a lot going for it -- shining a light on an ignored portion of academic Egyptology history of the "golden era," in addition to a nice exploration of queerness at times, but the book suffered from a lack of cohesiveness that jointed these stories together by something that wasn't just area of study and geography, I felt as if I was reading a series of wikipedia entries -- interesting and informative, but, at the end of the day, disconnected,