This excellent edition of Thomas Sandwith's diary takes readers on a fascinating two-month journey along the Nile. Seen through the eyes of a seasoned diplomat and discerning collector, the sights and sounds of Egypt are meticulously recorded without the embellishments or supercilious observations typical of so many nineteenth century travelogues. From Cairo to Aswan and back, Sandwith chronicles the contrasting wonders of the Nile. Hoopoes and cranes, ruins and monuments, glorious sunsets and dust-filled skies are among the many scenes witnessed as the Philae is blown along by a multitude of winds. People also occupy this space with local Egyptians and famous archaeologists coming in and out of the narrative. Not only will Sandwith's perceptive account of Egypt provide an important addition to academic studies, but researchers and students will likewise benefit from the wealth of contextual information in the critical apparatus supplied by its editor.

Rebecca J. W. Jefferson, PhD, Author of The Cairo Genizah and the Age of Discovery in Egypt, University of Florida, USA