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Barbara Mertz

バーバラ・ルイーズ・マーツ

Barbara Louise Mertz

Aliases: Barbara Louise Gross / Elizabeth Peters / Barbara Michaels
Pen Names: Elizabeth Peters（Pseudonym used primarily for historical mysteries (e.g. the Amelia Peabody series). Pen name derived from her children's names.）, Barbara Michaels（Pseudonym used for gothic and supernatural thrillers; adopted by publisher to avoid confusion with her academic work.）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1927-09-29 （Canton, Illinois, U.S.）
Died
2013-08-08 （Frederick, Maryland, U.S.） age 85
Nationality
American
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
Author, Egyptologist
Active Years
1964-2013
Affiliations
Editorial Advisory Board of KMT (A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt), Egypt Exploration Society, James Henry Breasted Circle, University of Chicago Oriental Institute
Memberships
Egypt Exploration Society, Malice Domestic (founder / organizer), Affiliated with University of Chicago Oriental Institute circles
Influenced By
John A. Wilson (mentor, Egyptologist)
Influenced
Contemporary historical mystery writers and many women mystery authors
Nominations
Trojan Gold nominated for the 1988 Anthony Award (Best Novel), He Shall Thunder in the Sky nominated for the 2001 Anthony Award (Best Novel), The Golden One nominated for the 2002 Agatha Award (Best Novel), Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium nominated for the 2004 Edgar Award (Best Critical / Biographical Work)

Education

University of Chicago
Oriental Institute (affiliated) / Egyptology
Degree: Bachelor's degree
Period: 1943–1947
Year of Graduation: 1947
Country: United States
Received bachelor's degree
University of Chicago
Oriental Institute (affiliated) / Egyptology
Degree: Master's degree
Period: 1947–1950
Year of Graduation: 1950
Country: United States
Received master's degree
University of Chicago
Oriental Institute (affiliated) / Egyptology
Degree: PhD
Period: 1950–1952
Year of Graduation: 1952
Country: United States
Studied with John A. Wilson; received PhD in Egyptology

Awards

Agatha Award — Best Novel
1989
Work: Naked Once More
Category: Best Novel
Organization: Malice Domestic / Agatha Awards
Result: winner
Anthony Awards — Grandmaster
1986
Category: Grandmaster / Lifetime Achievement
Organization: Anthony Awards (Bouchercon)
Result: winner
Mystery Writers of America — Grand Master
1998
Category: Grandmaster / Lifetime Achievement
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: winner
Agatha Award — Best Non-Fiction
2003
Work: Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium (with Kristen Whitbread)
Category: Best Non-Fiction
Organization: Malice Domestic / Agatha Awards
Result: winner
Edgar Award — Best Critical / Biographical Work
2004
Work: Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium
Category: Best Critical / Biographical Work
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: nominated
Malice Domestic — Lifetime Achievement Award
2003
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Organization: Malice Domestic
Result: winner
Amelia Peabody Award (inaugural honoree)
2012
Category: Honor
Organization: Malice Domestic
Result: honored

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs

1964 Non-fiction (popular ancient Egypt)

A popular introduction to ancient Egypt aimed at general readers; has remained in print with revised editions.

Ancient EgyptPopular archaeology

Red Land, Black Land

1966 Non-fiction (daily life in ancient Egypt)

Explores daily life in ancient Egypt; has appeared in revised editions.

Daily lifeAncient society

Crocodile on the Sandbank

1975 Historical mystery (Amelia Peabody series)

The first Amelia Peabody novel; features the Egyptologist heroine Amelia encountering mystery and adventure in Egypt.

FeminismArchaeologyAdventure

Naked Once More

1989 Mystery (Jacqueline Kirby series)

A Jacqueline Kirby novel featuring a librarian-detective; involves a mystery connected to romance novelists.

Female protagonistMysteryRomance and crime

Bibliography

  • Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs (1964)
  • Red Land, Black Land (1966)
  • Crocodile on the Sandbank (1975)
  • The Curse of the Pharaohs (1981)
  • Naked Once More (1989)
  • Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium (2003)

Adaptations

  • Ammie Come Home → TV movie 'The House That Would Not Die'
  • The Crying Child → film adaptation (1996)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Witty, light narrative voiceStrong archaeological and historical groundingFeminist perspective with strong female protagonists
Recurring Motifs
Egyptology and archaeological digsFamily and surrogate-family bondsFemale independence and resourcefulness

Legacy

Leveraging her Egyptological expertise, she wrote many historically grounded popular mysteries. The Amelia Peabody series enjoyed long-standing readership; she received major lifetime achievement honors (Anthony and MWA Grandmaster, Malice Domestic Lifetime Achievement). She also contributed to the advancement of women mystery writers, co-founding Malice Domestic.

Academic Societies

  • University of Chicago Oriental Institute (affiliations)

Archives

  • Papers held at the Lilly Library, Indiana University (Bloomington)

In Popular Culture

  • Creation of the 'Amelia Peabody Award' at Malice Domestic (named after her heroine)

Quotes

  • "She thought men were getting all the prizes, so she helped create an organization for women mystery writers."
    Source: Quoted in coverage about Malice Domestic (press/interview sources) (2000)

Trivia

  • Birth name Barbara Louise Gross; published under married name Barbara Mertz.
  • Wrote extensively under the pen names Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels.
  • Earned a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago in 1952.
  • The Amelia Peabody series comprises 20 novels; posthumous completion/editions appeared.
  • Papers and manuscripts are archived at the Lilly Library, Indiana University.