Customer Reviews
Cretan Mythology - By: R. J. Tattersall, 17 May 2008 
A wonderful & balanced study of the life of this charismatic archaeologist - warts & all. Fascinating detail about the nuts & bolts of inter-war Egyptian & Aegean archaeology, with its cast of colourful characters, & something of a travelogue as well. Having workedin the area as an archaeologist herself, Imogen Grundon was well qualified to write John Pendlebury's biography, & her book should appeal to both archaeologists & a wider reading public. The book is well researched - bothin the written sources, & by field study. The examination of Pendlebury's final days on Cretein 1941 illuminates the wayin which myths are born,and the problematic status of many conventional historical accounts.
Well-told story of a fascinating life, cut short - By: Mark N, 16 Oct 2007 John Pendlebury is perhaps best remembered now for his rolein the Battle of Crete,in which he died aged 37. This final episode is well-covered here, with a perceptive analysis of Pendlebury's last days & the reasons why the exact circumstances of his death remain mysterious. But the greatest strength liesin the description of Pendlebury's important archaeological careerin Egypt & Crete, written by an insider who has worked at many of the same sites, & can also place P's work within the academic context (& academic politics) of the time. There are some wonderful descriptions of the landscapesin which P. walked & worked, drawing extensively on P's diaries & letters.
Grundon is also very good on Pendlebury's character,in some respects very much a product of his time & background, but tinged with a romantic aspect that allows empathy to the reader.
I read this book after reading classic biographies of two other Egyptologists, Howard Carter (by James) & Flinders Petrie (by Drower); this book reaches the same standard, & is as readable. Warmly recommended, especially to those interestedin the Aegean, Egypt, or the history of archaeology.
