With one thoughtless statement, my class 5 teacher ruined all my dreams of becoming an archaeologist. When the class was talking about professions, she said, “Studying history is only for poor students, those who fail at everything else. All of you should be thinking of doing science and maths.”
History was always a favourite subject of mine and to hear this shattered both my self confidence and my dreams. It did not help that throughout my school life such stereotypes were repeatedly reinforced by my teachers.
I hope that none of you think this way. If you do, let me tempt you with the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Amelia Peabody is an Egyptologist who, along with her husband archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson, spends most of her life in the deserts of Egypt excavating ruins, unearthing tombs, exploring pyramids and chronicling the history of ancient Egypt. They have a son, Walter Peabody, but everyone calls him Ramses because, as his father says, he is ‘swarthy as an Egyptian and arrogant as a Pharaoh.’
These books follow their story, which spans 35 years as narrated by Amelia. Hot, endless desert sands, astounding discoveries, conspiracy and crime, murder and treachery fill the lives of the Peabody-Emerson family. From Cairo and its magical and chaotic markets, to the sites of ancient and lost cities, you will find adventure everywhere. You will, I am sure, develop a love for history too. I certainly lived out my dreams of becoming an archaeologist through Amelia Peabody. The family’s adventures began in 1884 and continued until the 1920s. As the Peabody-Emerson family enters the 20th century, we also share with them the events that lead up to the Fist World War.
Elizabeth Peters based her characters on real archaeologists. Amelia’s husband’s character is based on Sir William Flinders Petrie, a famous archaeologist and Egyptologist. Amelia’s character is inspired by the life of Amelia Edwards, who was a novelist and Egyptologist. Most of the discoveries the team make are based on actual ones.
There are many things that I loved in these books (and I am yet to finish reading them all). Amelia, as the narrator, draws you into the stories she tells. You can feel the searing heat of the desert, feel the joy of discovering an artefact or a tomb, pick up a smattering of Arabic and conspire with Ramses to go off on his own to solve the many mysteries they encounter. Her stories are full of wit and you will find yourself laughing through these books.
The Amelia Peabody series is for older readers though. The complexity of the stories, the references to historical events, the sometimes dark and frightening turn of events may not appeal to a younger reader. If you are in class 9 and above, you will love these books, I am sure.
Do write in and tell me if you managed to read any of them.
(Yasmine Claire teaches high school students and attempts to write twisted-inside-out fairy tales. Write in to claireyasmine@gmail.com)