THE ROMANCE OF A MUMMY

The UK-based FORTEAN TIMES continues to be a reliable, regularly-published periodical on Fortean and other strange phenomena. Now that the late-lamented ATLANTIS RISING has slipped beneath the waves, we only have FT and David Hatcher Childress' WORLD EXPLORER remaining on magazine racks to satisfy our paranormal and alt-history appetite. FT also frequently covers topics near and dear to our hearts, as the paranormal and horror films are cousins.

In the December issue of FT appears an article that coincides with the opening of a new Egyptian exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The article explores the fascination that we have had for the "mysterious" land of Egypt since the opening of King Tutankhamen's tomb by Sir Howard Carter in November 1922. Just 10 years later saw the premier of Universal's THE MUMMY, which firmly place the subject into the realm of fantasy and myth, thanks in large part to Jack Pierce's immaculate makeup recreation. Vengeful mummies have persisted in the cinema ever since.

Mummies were fodder for literature as well. One story concerning the topic was a novel by the Frenchman, Théophile Gautier entitled, "Romance of a Mummy". Gautier (30 August 1811 – 23 October 1872) is perhaps best known for his novel of a cross-dressing swords-woman based on a real-life person, MADEMOISELLE DE MAUPIN (1835). His adventure/romance novel of the mummy was first translated into English and published after his death in 1882. Prior to this, he wrote a short story entitled, "The Mummy's Foot", which was translated by Lafcadio Hearn in 1840.

The article shown here traces our interest in the mysterious and magical world of Ancient Egypt and its perpetual hold on our imagination.

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