Even those who know or care little about Egyptian history have heard of the heretic king, Akhenaten, his wife, Nefertiti and his successor, Tutankhamun. However, most of what the average person has learned is the result of speculation and sensationalist, romantic press. Dodson (archaeology and anthropology, University of Bristol UK) is a well-respected Egyptologist. In this study he reviews what is actually known about the Amarna period and how new discoveries have changed his mind about events and relationships among the royal family. He places the Amarna rulers within the local and international context of Egypt and her neighbors at that time, putting the religious innovations within the larger picture of the governance of Egypt. The book ends with the death of Horemheb, Tutankhamun's successor, and the beginning of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Dodson gives a careful explanation of the evidence for his conclusions and the areas in which there is still debate or uncertainty. Lay readers will be intrigued by the most recent possible explanation of the fate of the beautiful Queen Nefertiti. The research is meticulous and clearly cited. There are many photographs of the sites and stelae, most taken by the author. Dodson combines erudition with expertise to create an exciting account of a much mythologized period. Distributed in the U.S. by International Publishers Marketing (IPM). Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)