The Visitors: A Novel by Sally Beauman. Harper, 2014.Adult fiction.
Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and archaeologist Howard Carter are well known for their discovery of King Tut's tomb. Sally Beauman has taken real characters and interspersed them among just as riveting fictional ones. The main characters are the fictional eleven-year-old Lucy and her friend Frances, a real girl who was the daughter of an archaeologist. Readers follow Lucy throughout her lifetime and in the end it is Lucy who looks back to tell what happened to all of the imagined and real characters. Beauman weaves the tales of families, discoveries, secrets, and love masterfully into this 529 page book. Beauman is clear about fact and fantasy with charts to explain who's who and includes endpaper maps of the Valley of the Kings. She does not tie up all loose ends though as with Poppy or exactly the relationship between Nicola and Clair or even if anyone besides Lucy ever got to read Miss Mackenzie's memoir. But, if readers are willing to forgive a few minor points, they will love the story and the atmospheric descriptions.
After a hot ALA in Las Vegas and summer heat in Houston, I somehow took refuge in this book's Egyptian settings and English manners. I could not decide whether to read it quickly to find out what happened or just savor a few pages a day and enjoy the ride. I chose the latter and looked forward to being with Lucy and Frances for a little while each night. What a great way to spend some air-conditioned moments in armchair travel! The book will make readers run to learn more about the 1920's, King Tut, and the Carnarvons. Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize the class system, clothing, and food described.
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