Middle Egyptian Literature: Eight Literary Works of the Middle Kingdom

Description

A companion volume to the third edition of the author's popular Middle Egyptian, this book contains eight literary works from the Middle Kingdom, the golden age of Middle Egyptian literature. Included are the compositions widely regarded as the pinnacle of Egyptian literary arts, by the Egyptians themselves as well as by modern readers. The works are presented in hieroglyphic transcription, transliteration and translation, accompanied by notes cross-referenced to the third edition of Middle Egyptian. These are designed to give students of Middle Egyptian access to original texts and the tools to practise and perfect their knowledge of the language. The principles of ancient Egyptian verse, in which all the works are written, are discussed, and the transliterations and translations are versified, giving students practice in this aspect of Egyptian literature as well. Consecutive translations are also included for reference and for readers more concerned with Middle Egyptian literature than language.

James P. Allen is the Wilbour Professor of Egyptology at Brown University. He is a former curator of Egyptian art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and president of the International Association of Egyptologists. His previous publications include Genesis in Egypt: The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts (1989), The Heqanakht Papyri (2002), The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (2005), The Debate between a Man and his Soul (2010), The Ancient Egyptian Language: An Historical Study (2013), and three editions of Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, 3rd edition (2014).

'A rich resource for students to enhance their reading of eight classics of Middle Egyptian literature in the original language. It will surely become a standard in Middle Egyptian courses.' Mark Collier, University of Liverpool 'A marvellously authoritative and accessible new resource for anyone wanting to read these classics of world literature in the original language.' R. B. Parkinson, University of Oxford 'This book gives the reader access to one of the true surviving treasures of ancient Egypt: Middle Kingdom literary texts, presented in their original wording. An essential companion for students and lovers of ancient literature.' Andreas Stauder, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris