Travels in Egypt: Volume I by V. Denon & Vivant Denon

Delightful account of travel with Napoleon, translated either in archaic or inept English. His way of describing is as intriguing as are the descriptions themselves. His discussion of people and places and behavior is so interesting. Seems he was frustrated by being amongst so many artifacts but lack of time and concerns for safety prevented complete drawings. In any case he was often in mortal danger and suffered severe privation with the soldiers. He even seems aware of the basic folly of the enterprise. Napoleon figures small in the narrative. Denon is very self-effacing, the desert, the setting, the river, the mountains, the Marmlukes dominate and inspire awe and fear.