From biblical times and beyond, the Nile has captured our imagination in ways unrivalled by other rivers. Moses was left floating in a basket on the Nile, Cleopatra famously seduced Julius Caesar in a barge on the river, and Stanley greeted Dr. Livingstone while questing for the source of the Nile. The giant pyramids of Egypt are located in a wadi alongside the Nile and the river's natural cycle of seasonal floods deposited rich, alluvial soil to feed the large population living in the area. The river itself provided protein and access to water year round. Nelson was wounded in the Battle of the Nile, but Napoleon was defeated and French dominance in the region was ended once and for all.
Martin Williams, arguably the world's leading authority on the Nile, has written a lively account of this legendary waterway with the eloquence of an historian and the cutting edge clarity of a scientist. Disciplines such as sociology, geography, biology, environmental science, earth science, archeology and paleontology give us a comprehensive, all encompassing account of the mighty river (the world's longest), its role in history and its importance in the modern world. Natural forces that operate today, particularly in the Rift Valley, remind us that the Nile is not done with us yet! The climate crisis will not leave the river and its environs unscathed either.
This is a book to be read by scientist and layman alike. There is something for everyone!
The Nile Revealed: A Deep History of Earth's Longest River - Princeton University Press
Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN 9780691275918
232 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)
25 colour and 18 black-and-white illustrations - 3 tables
Publishing date: 20 October, 2026
It's great to hear that a subject expert like Martin Williams wrote this for both scientists and laymen alike.
ReplyDeleteHola, David.
ReplyDeleteMuy, muy interesante este libro.
Yo desgraciadamente sigo con problemas en mis actualizaciones.
Un abrazo.