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The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood by Irving Finkel: New

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eBay item number:285899522257
Last updated on 03 Aug, 2025 14:49:40 AESTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Brand new: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See the ...
Book Title
The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood
Publication Date
2014-03-25
Pages
421
ISBN
9780385537117

About this product

Product Information

The recent translation of a Babylonian tablet launches a groundbreaking investigation into one of the most famous stories in the world, challenging the way we look at ancient history. Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective when a member of the public arrived at the museum with an intriguing cuneiform tablet from a family collection. Not only did the tablet reveal a new version of the Babylonian Flood Story; the ancient poet described the size and completely unexpected shape of the ark, and gave detailed boat building specifications. Decoding this ancient message wedge by cuneiform wedge, Dr. Finkel discovered where the Babylonians believed the ark came to rest and developed a new explanation of how the old story ultimately found its way into the Bible. In The Ark Before Noah , Dr. Finkel takes us on an adventurous voyage of discovery, opening the door to an enthralling world of ancient voices and new meanings."

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0385537115
ISBN-13
9780385537117
eBay Product ID (ePID)
201682426

Product Key Features

Number of Pages
432 Pages
Language
English
Publication Name
Ark before Noah : Decoding the Story of the Flood
Publication Year
2014
Subject
Archaeology, Ancient / General, Folklore & Mythology, Antiquities & Archaeology, Ancient Languages (See Also Latin)
Type
Language Course
Subject Area
Foreign Language Study, Religion, History, Social Science
Author
Not Available
Format
Hardcover

Dimensions

Item Height
1.4 in
Item Weight
28.7 Oz
Item Length
9.5 in
Item Width
6.5 in

Additional Product Features

Dewey Edition
23
Reviews
"[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . [I]t is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . [T]hank God there are still men who can translate their messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . [F]resh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian, "A gem of a book." -- The New Yorker "Fascinating. . . .If you're interested in the history of religion, or detective stories--because this is definitely one--check out The Ark Before Noah ." --NY1 "[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . It is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . Thank God there are still men who can translate [these ancient] messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . Fresh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian "Beguiling. . . . [Written] with great wit and warmth. . . . Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul." -- Observer "Self-described 'wedge reader' Finkel is a scholarly and often witty guide to the antediluvian civilization and our shared lineage. . . . Finkel's happy primer on historic Mesopotamia is, on the whole, wonderfully rewarding." -- Kirkus Reviews, "A gem of a book." -- The New Yorker "[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . It is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . Thank God there are still men who can translate [these ancient] messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . Fresh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian "Beguiling. . . . [Written] with great wit and warmth. . . . Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul." -- Observer "Self-described 'wedge reader' Finkel is a scholarly and often witty guide to the antediluvian civilization and our shared lineage. . . . Finkel's happy primer on historic Mesopotamia is, on the whole, wonderfully rewarding." -- Kirkus Reviews, "[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . It is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . Thank God there are still men who can translate [these ancient] messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . Fresh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian "Beguiling. . . . [Written] with great wit and warmth. . . . Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul." -- Observer "Self-described 'wedge reader' Finkel is a scholarly and often witty guide to the antediluvian civilization and our shared lineage. . . . Finkel's happy primer on historic Mesopotamia is, on the whole, wonderfully rewarding." -- Kirkus Reviews, "[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . It is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . Thank God there are still men who can translate [these ancient] messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . Fresh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian "Beguiling. . . . [Written] with great wit and warmth. . . . Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul." -- Observer, "A gem of a book." -- The New Yorker "Fascinating. . . .If you're interested in the history of religion, or detective stories--because this is definitely one--check out The Ark Before Noah ." --NY1 "[E]ngaging and informative. . . . Finkel is an enthusiast and shows evident delight in bringing this find to the wider public." -- The Wall Street Journal "[T]he charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book -- the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle. . . . Consistently scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid. . . . It is a joy, at times laugh-out-loud funny. . . . The antediluvian past of the Middle East might seem arcane but this book demonstrates its relevance. . . . Thank God there are still men who can translate [these ancient] messages." -- The Times "A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship. . . . This book does more than change the way we imagine the sources of a Bible story, however. It rescues cuneiform from its dusty place in the museum basement. . . . Fresh and exciting." -- Sunday Times "[Finkel's] conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters." -- Guardian "Beguiling. . . . [Written] with great wit and warmth. . . . Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul." -- Observer "Self-described 'wedge reader' Finkel is a scholarly and often witty guide to the antediluvian civilization and our shared lineage. . . . Finkel's happy primer on historic Mesopotamia is, on the whole, wonderfully rewarding." -- Kirkus Reviews
Target Audience
Trade
Illustrated
Yes
Dewey Decimal
220.93

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  • Great perspective of an ark prior to Noah’s.

    Great perspective of the Sumerian flood story and more interesting how a coracle was built. Very detailed account from the cuneiform tablets. Finkle reads cuneiform and explains it in a very colorful way any some humor. He is curator at the museum of London. I’ve read it twice. He discusses the ark 1,000 to 1,500 before the biblical account of Noah. The boat of the Sumerians is quite different and made of totally different materials, mainly reeds. Much simpler construction than Noah’s ark and very sea worthy. Iraqis were still making them up to the 1950s. 5,000 year old design.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: betterworldbooks

  • Great book

    Very interesting take on history

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: thrift.books

  • Lots of information

    The book came in good shape and in good time. Lots of information.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: second.sale

  • Ttile says it all.

    Excellent research source.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: worldofbooksinc