The Conflict Between Conquest and Preservation

The late 1800s were a time of intense exploration and discovery, particularly in the field of archaeology. As Britain and other colonial powers embarked on expeditions to Egypt and beyond, the prevailing mindset was clear: artifacts and relics were spoils of conquest, treasures to be claimed and brought back to the empire.  The idea of cultural superiority was deeply ingrained, and these discoveries were often seen as prizes that validated the might and sophistication of the colonial powers.

A fact that has the heroine in my new release, Of Gold and Shadows, quite up in arms.

In this context, the views of Ami Dalton and her father are decidedly unusual. While the majority of their contemporaries saw archaeological finds as trophies to be displayed in private collections, Ami and her father approached their work with a sense of reverence for the cultures they studied. To them, these artifacts were not merely objects to be owned, but pieces of a larger historical puzzle that deserved respect and preservation.

Their eccentric approach to archaeology stood in stark contrast to the dominant attitudes of the time. Instead of viewing their discoveries as personal or national triumphs, Ami and her father believed in preserving the integrity of the past. They were ahead of their time in recognizing that these relics belonged to the cultures that created them, not to the nations that happened to unearth them.

Which is exactly what puts Ami into direct conflict with the dashing hero, Edmund Price. Edmund acquires a shipload of just such antiquities and it’s up to Ami to convince him to sell to the Cairo Museum instead of to the highest bidder.

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