First published in 1973, this anthology has assumed classic status in
the field of Egyptology and portrays the remarkable evolution of the
literary forms of one of the world's earliest civilizations. Beginning
with the early and gradual evolution of Egyptian genres, it includes
biographical and historical inscriptions carved on stone, the various
classes of works written with pen on papyrus, and the mortuary
literature that focuses on life after death. It then shows the
culmination of these literary genres within the single period known as
the New Kingdom (1550-1080 B.C.) and ends in the last millennium of
Pharaonic civilization, from the tenth century B.C. to the beginning of
the Christian era. An introduction written in three parts by Antonio
Loprieno, Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert, and Joseph G. Manning completes this
classic anthology.