Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction
Wednesday, April 9 | 4:30pm
Lynne Olson Author & Historian
Discover the incredible story of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the fearless French archaeologist who spearheaded the international effort to save ancient Egyptian temples from the floodwaters of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s. Her daring and determination, likened to a real-life Indiana Jones, ensured that these priceless cultural treasures, including the Temple of Dendur, were preserved for future generations. Despite immense challenges, including opposition from powerful leaders and her own harrowing experiences in World War II, Desroches-Noblecourt’s relentless fight and unexpected support from figures like Jacqueline Kennedy secured a remarkable victory for heritage preservation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynne Olson is a New York Times bestselling author of nine books of history. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has called her “our era’s foremost chronicler of World War II politics and diplomacy.”
Lynne’s latest book, Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples From Destruction, will be published by Random House in February 2023. Her earlier books include three New York Times bestsellers: Madame Fourcade’s Secret War: The Daring Young Woman Who Led France’s Largest Spy Network Against the Nazis; Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America’s Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941, and Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour.
Born in Hawaii, Lynne graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a journalist for ten years, first with the Associated Press as a national feature writer in New York, a foreign correspondent in AP’s Moscow bureau, and a political reporter in Washington. She left the AP to join the Washington bureau of the Baltimore Sun, where she covered national politics and eventually the White House.
Lynne lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Stanley Cloud, with whom she co-authored two books.
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