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Unfolding the History of The Book (ENGL 333)
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Unfolding the History of The Book (ENGL 333)
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Lecture 3: Unfolding the History of The BookJanuary 13th, 2023
The Egyptian Book of The Dead
Translated and edited by its “discoverer” E. A. Wallis Budge (British Museum), The Book of the
Dead purports to contain all the “chapters” essential to the “book.”
● Buried with high officials of the Egyptian state to ensure their safe passage after death
● Book was first published in 1890, two years after Budge “acquired” the “book” in 1888.
A Complicated “Acquisition”
In 1882, Britain had occupied Egypt in the aftermath of the Anglo-Egyptian war.
● The British Museum assumed that all archeological items in Egypt were British property.
● In 1888, Egyptians trading in antiquities discovered the Papyrus of Ani.
● The Egyptian police, concerned that these objects would leave Egypt, sealed up the
houses of the antiquities dealers (the Papyrus was in one of these houses)
Budge invited the police who were guarding these houses to a fancy and elaborate dinner.
● At the same time, his crew were tunnelling underground into the house containing the
Papyrus, thus “obtaining” it for the British Museum.
However, the huge Papyrus roll was bulky and difficult to hide, and so Budge ordered that it be
cut into 37 pieces (how it is known today).
● First of the historical inaccuracies perpetrated on this papyrus, and on the history of the
book in general.
● The “book” of the dead was not a book – it was a papyrus scroll, some of which
reached 40 meters (130 feet)
○ First lie!
● It was not about death but about life—The Book of Emerging Forth into the Light is
an accurate translation of the hieroglyphic title.
○ Second lie!
● What are referred to as “chapters” of the Book are in fact “spells” or sung chants,
reflecting of oral culture; the hieroglyphs “spoke” their meaning
○ Third lie!
○ Ani was being sung into the next world!
An Alternate History of the Book
The “history” of the book tends to associate the book with printing, which was, in fact, only part
of its history.
● Even the “book before the book,” that is, a manuscript (handwritten) book, is understood
in this context.
● One example: the Codex Amiatinus (the oldest surviving complete translation of the
Bible from its various sources into Latin)
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