THE RISE AND FALL OF ANCIENT EGYPT

Wilkinson lays out ancient Egyptian history to the death of Cleopatra as a long narrative, though one sometimes heavy with detail. Michael Page's narration flows with some of the sweep of storytelling but without diverting attention from the text to the performance. He has a deep, resonant voice, a likable English accent, and a serious but amiable manner. Given the density of the information, his pace is sometimes slightly too quick for easy absorption. But he conveys the sense of the text, and the author's implicit judgments, skillfully and subtly and renders a great number of complex Egyptian names and terms with the ring of authenticity. Overall, his skill and intelligence help keep this long history palatable. W.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]