Amelia Edwards (1831–1892) was an English novelist, journalist and travel writer. In the winter of 1873–1874 she and her companion visited Egypt, travelling up the Nile from Cairo to Abu Simbel and back. Edwards became fascinated with ancient Egypt as a result of this visit, founding the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1882 and devoting the rest of her life to Egyptology and the protection of Egypt's ancient monuments. This volume, first published in 1876, contains Edwards' engaging description of her life-changing visit to Egypt. She vividly describes ancient sites and monuments which have since been damaged or destroyed, and provides sharp observations and descriptions of contemporary Egyptian society and culture. Her animated and witty stories of her experiences, combined with over sixty illustrations created during her journey, ensured the immense popularity of this volume, which remains a charming and fascinating description of nineteenth-century Egypt.