Szpakowska, an Egyptologist at the University of Wales-Swansea, recreates the daily life of middle-class residents of the ancient Egyptian town of Lahun during Egypt's Middle Kingdom, focusing on a young girl and her family. After placing the town in its accurate historical and geographical context, the author chronicles the everyday life of its inhabitants, looking at aspects such as education, occupations, food preparation, religious rituals, healing techniques, and marriages, births, and deaths. To create an authentic portrait, she draws on recently published data and archaeological findings directly from the settlement of Lahun as well as from other contemporary settlement and mortuary sites. B&w photos and drawings of artifacts are included. The author has written other books on ancient Egypt. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)