Description
Gods, Graves and Scholars by C.W. Ceram
Published in 1954 by Readers Union Ltd., produced exclusively for members.
This Readers Union edition stands out with its distinctive yellow cloth binding and gold gilt lettering on the spine. It is a scarce copy; these special printings were made in limited numbers and often do not survive in such sound condition.
Originally published in German as Götter, Gräber und Gelehrte (1949), this work became an international classic, first issued in English in 1952 by Victor Gollancz Ltd. in association with Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd. Ceram (the pseudonym of Kurt Wilhelm Marek) brought archaeology vividly to life, weaving history, scholarship, and human drama into an engaging narrative.
The book traces some of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the modern era:
– Heinrich Schliemann’s controversial yet groundbreaking excavation of Troy
– Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon’s discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb
– George Smith’s deciphering of cuneiform tablets recounting the story of the Biblical Flood
– Explorations of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the pyramids of Chichen Itza, and the fabled Labyrinth of the Minotaur in Crete
These stories helped shape public fascination with archaeology as both an adventure and a science. Ceram’s work remains significant for making the field accessible to a wide readership, blending meticulous research with compelling narrative.
Details of this copy:
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Scarce 1954 Readers Union edition, produced for members only
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Yellow cloth boards with gold gilt spine lettering
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308 pages including index
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Solid hinges, clean pages, no seam splits
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A few light water marks on the spine (see gallery image for close-up)
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