"Conquest of Assyria" came highly recommended by David Damrosch in a footnote in "The Buried Book", so I took the chance. What a discovery! This is a very readable and enjoyable narrative of one of the most romantic and picturesque stories in archeology. Perhaps partly justifying the steep price ($135 list), the book is physically above average in terms of quality - it is large format, the binding is like a tank, the boards are heavy and solid, the paper is heavy gloss, there are full-color plates, maps and drawings throughout (at least every 3rd page). The narrative reads like a novel covering the lives of about half a dozen gentleman "scientists" (more like antiquarian diggers). Layard is the central hero with adventures and tales equal to anything in India Jones, but all real. If it was re-printed in paperback for a mass audience it would probably overshadow books like The Buried Book, but for whatever reason, it remains for a limited audience because of the high price. If you have any interest in learning more about the desert adventures of 19th C archaeologists, this is one book to get lost in, it was hard to put down.

There are some scholarly quibbles. Larsen takes Laylards accounts of his adventures, written for a 19th C popular audience, at face value and in the end tends to have written a hagiography of Laylard. He repeats racists 19th c perspectives about Arabs (stupid, bad workers, etc..). His perspective on the Oriental middle east is likewise outdated calling it "endless, monotonous and flat.. decrepit.. not a nice place to spend the summer or any other time of year." There is no awareness by Larsen of post-colonial views, he seems to favor the 19th c colonial position of superiority. As a story of mystery and adventure it can't be beat, as a scholarly account it repeats old stereotypes that should be retired. ( )

"The Conquest of Assyria" tells the story of the rediscovery of a "lost" ancient civilisation, Anglo-French rivalry, larger-than-life characters, and colourful feuds. Everyone had their own Nineveh, their own transliteration scheme, their own dreams of publiction, celebrity and renown.