The Earl and the Pharaoh
Audio only

The Earl and the Pharaoh

From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of TutankhamunBy The Countess of CarnarvonNarrated by The Countess of Carnarvon
Length13h 17m

About this audiobook

Bestselling author the Countess of Carnarvon tells the thrilling behind-the-scenes story of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun on its centennial, and explores the unparalleled life of family ancestor George Herbert—the famed Egyptologist, world-traveler, and 5th Earl of Carnarvon behind it—whose country house, Highclere Castle, is the setting of the beloved series Downton Abbey. In November 1922, the world was mesmerized by news of an astonishing historical find in Egypt’s legendary Valley of Kings: the discovery of the tomb of the Egyptian Pharoah Tutankhamun. George Herbert, himself a famed amateur Egyptologist and noted antiquities collector, financed the expedition and excavation headed by lead archaeologist Howard Carter, and accompanied him inside this sacred space that had remained untouched for centuries. Inside the tomb, the explorers found King Tut’s sarcophagus and a treasure trove of astonishing artifacts: chariots and model boats, board games and paintings, a coffin made of pure gold. But these objects were more than just beautifully crafted works of art; they shed new light on Tutankhamun world and this fabled period of history, and changed our understanding of how the ancient Egyptians had lived—transforming overnight what had been formed through centuries of history and myth. Drawing on Highclere Castle’s archives, the Countess of Carnarvon pays homage to her ancestor on the 100th anniversary of this extraordinary event. In vivid and dramatic detail, she brings into focus the larger-than-life characters and lustrous settings—as well as those twists of luck and tragedies that shaped Herbert’s life. Across the early 1900s, Highclere saw no less drama than the fictional Downton Abbey, with early tragedies for the Earl and love affairs, as well highs of exorbitant wealth and trials of punishing debt. But above all there was adventure. While Herbert first went to Egypt for his health, this mysterious, romantic land would become a second home; the beloved place where he funneled his attentions over a period of decades, never quite realizing how great the fruits of his labors would prove. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Audiobook details

GenreBiography and Memoir, History, Psychology
Length13 hrs 17 mins
Narrated byThe Countess of Carnarvon
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateDec 6, 2022
LanguageEnglish

You may also like

Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life
Fifty-One Years of Victorian LifeCountess of Margaret Elizabeth Leigh Child-Villiers Jersey7h 57m$1 · $0.00
The English Governess at the Siamese Court
The English Governess at the Siamese CourtAnna Harriette Leonowens10h 16m$23
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Volumes 1–7
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Volumes 1–7Lisa Manzione3h 45m$20
Wee Willie Winkie, and Other Stories Volume 2
Wee Willie Winkie, and Other Stories Volume 2Rudyard Kipling4h 49m$2.30
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Vol. 1
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Vol. 1Lisa Manzione30m$5
50 MORE Wild Motorcycle Tales
50 MORE Wild Motorcycle TalesWalter F. Kern5h 40m$17
Olivia in India
Olivia in IndiaAnna Buchan$2 · $0.00
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Vol. 4
The Adventures of Bella & Harry, Vol. 4Lisa Manzione28m$14
The Life of Christopher Columbus
The Life of Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus, Edward Everett Hale6h 43m$2 · $0.00
The History of Yachting, 1600–1815
The History of Yachting, 1600–1815Arthur Hamilton Clark7h 16m$1 · $0.00
The Secret Mountain
The Secret MountainEnid Blyton4h 47m$2 · $0.00
A Cook's Tour
A Cook's TourAnthony Bourdain5h 50m$28 · $0.00
Peter Parley's Visit to London during the Coronation of Queen Victoria
Peter Parley's Visit to London during the Coronation of Queen VictoriaSamuel G. Goodrich1h 26m$2.30
The Story of Treasure Seekers
The Story of Treasure SeekersE. Nesbit5h 27m$2.30
Society as I Have Found It
Society as I Have Found ItWard McAllister5h 45m$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Works of E. Nesbit (220+ Titles in One Illustrated Edition)
The Greatest Works of E. Nesbit (220+ Titles in One Illustrated Edition)Edith Nesbit244h 42m$2 · $0.00
The Bobbsey Twins In A Great City
The Bobbsey Twins In A Great CityLaura Lee Hope4h 45m$2.30
Pete the Cat and the Surprise Teacher
Pete the Cat and the Surprise TeacherJames Dean5m$4 · $0.00
Getting to know Spain
Getting to know SpainDee Day56m$1 · $0.00
With the Indians in the Rockies (Complete Edition)
With the Indians in the Rockies (Complete Edition)James Willard Schultz4h 10m$2 · $0.00