The papyri published here, chiefly in the collection of the Oriental
Institute Museum, comprise part of a large family archive from the town
of Hawara in the Egyptian Fayum. Written in Demotic and Greek, the
documents (annuity contracts, donations, sales, mortgage agreements,
loan repayments) are an excellent source of information about the Egypt
of the fourth to third century b.c. Professor George R. Hughes had
worked on the ten Oriental Institute Hawara papyri for a number of
years, but sadly, it was not possible for him to finish the manuscript
before his death in December 1992; he did, however, prepare preliminary
transliterations and translations of the papyri, including the Rendell
Papyrus published in the Appendix. Discussions, commentaries, and
glossaries are included. Richard Jasnow completed the manuscript with
the assistance of James Keenan, who prepared the Greek texts. The book
is of interest to Egyptologists, Hellenists, and all of those concerned
with the economic and social history of the Late period in Egypt.