The Boy Behind the Mask: Meeting the Real Tutankhamun

The name of Tutankhamun conjures up gold treasure, a secret tomb, and an ancient curse. However, the life of this legendary pharaoh remains surrounded by rumour and mystery. What caused his sudden demise over 2,500 years ago? Why was his tomb so hastily closed? And while alive, what was his relationship with his parents, his wife, and allies? 

Alongside the vast riches discovered by Howard Carter in the tomb were more personal items including clothes, remains of food, and games. These very items, paired with photographs of Carter’s finds available here for the first time for the general public, breathe brilliant new life into an iconic king and the world in which he lived.

Charlotte Booth teaches Egyptology at Birkbeck College in London. She has written numerous articles, and her published books include People of Ancient Egypt (Tempus Press, 2005). She currently resides in Wiltshire, UK.

"The Boy Behind the Mask remains a readable and wide-ranging book - and one that will surely help to introduce a new generation to the fascination of King Tut." Times Higher Education Supplement

"This key book provides an amazing insight into a boy, and his life and times." The Good Book Guide

"The end of the Eighteenth Dynasty is, and will no doubt remain, of huge interest and this volume is a useful contribution to our understanding of the period." Ancient Egypt