‘The Collector’s Daughter’ by Gill Paul is a sweeping historical fiction novel that is a dual timeline set in the 20’s and late 70’s. A poignant and well-crafted story about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt in 1922. I have read other books by Gill Paul so expected a lot as I opened the book to read. She has outdone my expectations with this book. I know a little about the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb and the curse that affected anyone who entered it. I only knew about the men discovering the Tomb, funnily enough, but had never heard of Lady Evelyn Herbert being a part of this discovery. This is really not unusual as women have the habit of being brushed aside throughout history.
The Collectors Daughter gives us Lady Evelyn’s story from her point of view. This is such a refreshing change, I really was held by this story and this woman’s love for Egypt. The book begins in 1972 with Eve having suffered a stroke which is not her first one by any means. She had an accident in 1930 and since then she never had good health. She is struggling to recollect memories that Brograve, her husband prompts. This is a man that is a loyal, loving and faithful husband even though he struggles to the end. Gill Paul, I am sure has either personal experience or has done so much research in the rehabilitation process. She clarifies the struggles that Eve has both physically and emotionally. The details are there as is the sensitivity towards this terrible event.
We are swept back to the 1920s and we follow Eve and her life from sharing her fathers passion for Egypt and actually being one of the first-ever people to step into Tutankhamun’s tomb, along with her father and Howard Carter. We keep moving in time and see her marry Brograve and all the other things that her life comprises off. Being a parent along with everything else. We bear witness to how the car accident altered her life from 1930 onwards.
The curse of Tutankhamun’s Tomb is not really something Eve really believes but she does tend to wonder about the tragedy and death around her over the years. It is still a mystery that surrounds this particular curse and Gill Paul cleverly leaves it open which gives the reader the option of making their own decision and that becomes fascinating as the story unfolds.
I was captivated by this historical tale, with descriptions of both Egypt and London that took me right there and characters I felt for, who felt so real. This is a book that reinforces my “I love to be educated and entertained at the same time” saying. I started not knowing much and finished knowing a whole lot more.
If you have any curiosity about Tutankhamun and the curse and love historical fiction just try this. It will blow you away it did me!
So many thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Avon Books for my place on the tour and the copy of this delightful book.
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