The book is divided into three parts. The first establishes the cultural setting of ancient Egypt, with chapters on its geography, archaeology, history, art and architecture. The central section of the book takes the reader on a journey down the Nile, calling at some 90 sites where significant discoveries have been made or spectacular monuments stand. From the rock-cut tombs of Aswan to the pyramids at Giza, from he treasures of Tut'ankhamun to the shifting sands of the delta, the reader is transported effortlessly by means of maps, photographs, site plans and descriptive accounts of the visible remains. A further journey takes the intrepid traveler into Nubia and to the temples of Abu Simbel, rescued from the waters of Lake Nasser. The third part considers important aspects of Egyptian society and daily life.