Breaking the Maya Code

Description

The inside story of one of the major intellectual breakthroughs of our time - the last great decipherment of an ancient script - now revised and updated.

Michael D. Coe is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Curator Emeritus in the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. His books include The Maya, Reading the Maya Glyphs, Mexico and The True History of Chocolate.

'Coe's thrilling account of the cracking of Mayan is like a detective story ... great stuff' - Observer 'A thrilling story of academic rivalry, bigotry, chewing gum and - wait for it - penis perforation' - Daily Mail 'An entertaining, enlightening and even humorous history of the great searchers after the meaning that lies in the Maya inscriptions' - Anthony Burgess 'Told with great vigour by Professor Michael Coe, who was himself involved; he offers an insider's story with strong views of the personalities, competence and abilities of some colleagues' - History Today 'A great story told clearly and passionately by a great Mayanist. It's an inspiring example of the ultimate triumph of a truth in the knock-down, drag-out world of academic politics' - Science