Soldier of the Pharaoh: Middle Kingdom Egypt 2055-1650 BC

By Nic Fields, Illustrated by Peter Bull
(Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007) 64 pages
Warrior Series, $17.95

Nic Fields, a former member of the Royal Marines and a Ph.D. in ancient history, has written the 121st installment of Osprey Publisher’s Warrior Series. With the generous accompaniment of illustrations—photos of ancient art and artifacts, some of which are inexplicably out of focus, and Bull’s dramatic color drawings—Fields portrays the lives of ancient Egyptian soldiers. From descriptions of battle techniques, equipment and eating habits to social status and religious belief, Fields reconstructs the life of the average conscript. Like other Osprey titles, this slim volume will appeal to casual war history enthusiasts or beginners.