THE acclaimed book by a Bolton woman on the Egyptian queen who became a king has now gone into paperback.

Dr Joyce Tyldesley is a former Bolton School pupil who studied Egyptology and archaeology at Liverpool and Oxford. She opted for a career in the subject after renowned archaeologist Dr Rosalie David was the guest at a school speech day.

Her first book Daughters of Isis was well received, but it was her second Hatchepsut The Female Pharaoh which really seems to have captured the public's imagination.

It centres on the eldest daughter of Tuthmosis 1 who married her half-brother and became guardian of her stepson/nephew, Tuthmosis III.

This remarkable woman assumed the mantle of power and became King, occupying the throne of the pharaohs - even wearing the traditional false beard.

But this was the land of serious power, and serious politics. Later, her name was erased, her monuments destroyed and her reign forgotten for more than two thousand years.

In fact, Hatchepsut reigned supremely well for more than 20 years, bringing peace, prosperity and progress.

And it was the unusual and fascinating book by Dr Joyce Tyldesley - alias Mrs Joyce Snape, mother of eight years-old Philippa and four years-old Jack - which alerted the public to this forgotten dynasty.

Now, Joyce is honorary research fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Oriental Studies at Liverpool University and a freelance writer and lecturer on Egyptian archaeology.

And her book has proved so popular that it has gone into paperback*. Now, Hatchepsut and Dr Joyce Tyldesley can finally step into the public limelight, both revealing how feminine determination can triumph in life. *Hatchepsut The Female Pharaoh by Dr Joyce Tyldesley, published by Penguin at £8.99 .

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