Book excerpt: An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, a two volume set written by Egyptian expert E.A. Wallis Budge, is quite simply one of the most comprehensive and detailed dictionaries of Egyptian hieroglyphs with English to accompany it. The series includes a detailed Introduction by the author with key words and glyphs, a bibliography of works used to help with translation and research, glyphs organized alphabetically by the Egyptian alphabet with accompanying words and English translations, tables of hieroglyphs with phonetic and numeric values and accompanying translations, and an Index of both English and Egyptian words. Volume I includes the introduction, bibliography, a list of characters separated by subject and organized by table, and letters "A" through "KH" or "KHA" of hieroglyphs and translations. SIR ERNEST ALFRED THOMPSON WALLIS BUDGE (1857-1934) was born in Bodmin, Cornwall in the UK and discovered an interest in languages at a very early age. Budge spent all his free time learning and discovering Semitic languages, including Assyrian, Syriac, and Hebrew. Eventually, through a close contact, he was able to acquire a job working with Egyptian and Iraqi artifacts at the British Museum. Budge excavated and deciphered numerous cuneiform and hieroglyphic documents, contributing vastly to the museum's collection. Eventually, he became the Keeper of his department, specializing in Egyptology. Budge wrote many books during his lifetime, most specializing in Egyptian life, religion, and language.