Born: 29 September 1927, United States
Died: 8 August 2013
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Michaels
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Barbara Mertz was a renowned American author and Egyptologist who wrote under her name and pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. She earned a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago in 1952 and was celebrated for her mystery novels, including the Amelia Peabody series.
While she is best known for her engaging mystery and suspense novels, including the beloved Amelia Peabody historical mystery series published under the pseudonym Elizabeth Peters, Mertz also made significant contributions to the field of Egyptology. She authored two enduring books on ancient Egypt, “Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs” and “Red Land, Black Land,” both continuously in print since their initial publication. Beyond her literary achievements, Mertz was a staunch feminist who founded “Malice Domestic,” an organization supporting women mystery writers and established a scholarship for women writers at Hood College. Her legacy lives on as a multifaceted literary figure and advocate for women in the writing world.