This title presents an accessible & beautifully illustrated introduction to the Books of the Dead the collections of magical spells on papyrus that the Egyptians believed would help them safely reach their afterlife. It presents a concise introduction to the perennially fascinating subject of ancient Egyptian attitudes to death & the dead. The British Museum holds an unequalled collection of Book of the Dead manuscripts on papyri. New photography captures the exquisite detail of the painted vignettes that accompany the spells. It is published to accompany a major exhibition at the British Museum, 4 November 2010 6 March 2011. For most ancient Egyptians, life on earth was short. But death was not an end; it was merely the entering of a new phase of being. They believed that the afterlife was a real place, but various obstacles, torments & judgements had to be overcome to reach it. To ensure a safe passage, wealthy Egyptians took with them specially commissioned compilations of spells, written on papyrus rolls. There was a large number of spells to choose from: spells for obtaining air, food & water; for transforming your body into another form, such a bird or lotus; for warding off hostile snakes & crocodiles; for preventing your heart from disclosing all your sins; for not permitting others to steal your body parts & soul; for not doing work in the realm of the dead; &, so on. Through these fragile papyrus texts & vignettes & a selection of other funerary objects, this book reveals what the ancient Egyptians believed lay between life & the afterlife. The Author John H. Taylor is a curator at the British Museum specializing in ancient Egyptian funerary archaeology.