The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Candace Fleming’s narrative nonfiction book explores the search for Tutankhamun’s tomb and the controversy that followed its discovery. It begins with the young pharaoh’s life and burial, then turns to the European fascination with ancient Egypt and the long effort to locate his resting place. The account follows the opening of the tomb, disputes over ownership of its treasures, and the Western public’s belief that those who disturbed it faced a curse. Reports of illnesses, accidents, and deaths become part of an examination of how archaeological discovery, competing interests, and sensational stories shaped public understanding of the excavation.