Hooked on Books Book Group - Cary Area Public Library

Description

We will discuss The Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Copies of the book can be checked out at the Service Center.

Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction by Lynne Olson
In the 1960s, the world's attention was focused on a nail-biting race against time: Fifty countries contributed nearly a billion dollars to save a dozen ancient Egyptian temples, built during the height of the pharaohs' rule, from drowning in the floodwaters of the massive new Aswan High Dam. But the extensive press coverage at the time overlooked the daring French archaeologist who made it all happen. Without the intervention of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the temples would now be at the bottom of a vast reservoir. Their rescue was an unimaginably large and complex project requiring that the fragile sandstone temples be dismantled, stone by stone, and rebuilt on higher ground. A fearless and dynamic woman unintimidated by world leaders, Desroches-Noblecourt was determined to preserve a crucial part of Egypt's cultural heritage and make sure it remained in its homeland.