Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt

The story of Napoleon's mismanaged invasion of Egypt in 1798 as told by the journalist Nina Burleigh. He led over 50,000 soldiers and sailors and 151 French scholars and artists into an adventure for which they were ill-equipped and unprepared. The destruction of their fleet soon after arrival left many of the sailors dead and most of their supplies at the bottom of the bay at Alexandria. A lucky few among the savants had packed their instruments with their personal baggage but most were lost, leaving them scrambling to find tools, even paper and pens, to carry out their investigations. Complicating their work was the contempt, resentment, and even mistreatment by the military. Despite the difficulties, during the years they were stuck in Egypt, the scientists, artists, and engineers explored the land, measuring, drawing, and collecting specimens and artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone. The book (in 24 volumes) written after they returned to France was the first comprehensive view of Egyptian culture, both ancient and contemporary, that had ever appeared in Western Europe.

I enjoyed the book and found it very interesting although, in places, Burleigh seemed to wander around a bit. But, of course, the characters she was following were wandering about as well. She covered, not only their discoveries, but their reactions to an unfamiliar culture and their reactions (from letters and journals) to the military misadventures they witnessed. Jim, however, didn't enjoy it as much as I did since he was hoping for more about the way they carried out their experiments and measurements and their discoveries of the temples, tombs, etc.

For those interested in Napoleon and Egyptian history.

This is an excellent update to Napoleon's conquest of Egypt. Nina is an excellent writer with considerable expertise in this field. ( )

Mirage tells the story of the men, scholars (or savants in French), who volunteered to accompany Napoleon on an unknown mission. They weren't paid. They didn't even receive rations as the soldiers and seamen did. They came because of love for France's general and a belief that where ever he was going, it was their duty to expand scientific knowledge. One has to admire them.

They were the best and brightest France had. Mathematicians, chemists, engineers, geologists, zoologists, artists. They ranged in age from their mid-fifties to 15. Many died in Egypt, many were maimed, almost all of them were damaged for life by the experience.
They accomplished miracles in the face of unbelievable hardship, starvation, deprivation and disease. Their own countrymen loathed them. In the end, they were used as bargaining chips in the desperate attempt of the abandoned French army (Napoleon had long since quit Egypt to return to Europe, leaving his army with no way to get home) to negotiate with the British for transport. Did you ever wonder how the Rosetta stone ended up in the BM? The French gave it to them to get home.

What the savants accomplished, and how the accomplished it, in the face of these odds is an extraordinary story. They started a rage for Egyptiana that still continues. From Aida down to The Mummy. Whether that was to Egypt's benefit is still being argued. Zahi Hawass will undoubtedly go to his deathbed clamoring for the return of the vast quantity of lost national treasures. Be that as it may, the book the savants finally produced, "Description de l’Égypte" is a phenomenal work of art. ( )