In An Antique Land is essentially an autobiographical account of Indian social anthropologist Amitav Ghosh's quest to discover scarce and exceptional pieces of Egyptian history, including letters, archives, artifacts, fossils and other remnants. The New York Times calls it "a hybrid of history, cultural investigation and travelogue."

The impetus of Ghosh's journey comes from receipt of a cash endowment meant to help him pursue a doctorate degree. While at first he seems confounded on what area to study, happenstance brings him across the writings of a 12th century Hebrew businessman, which inspire him. It seems the businessman has not only knowledge of Egyptian society but also that of India, where he had spent a substantial amount of time.

As Ghosh delves into his research, he also provides details and anecdotes about life in an impoverished Egyptian village where he learns about Middle Eastern customs, deciphers ancient texts, and interacts with many locals—some of whom question his religious beliefs and others who grill him about India's cultures and practices.

Over time, Ghosh becomes quite the exceptional travel writer. He ends his book by returning to Egypt seven years after leaving to see how the people and places have changed, especially due to international events like the Iraq/Iran War. He makes social observations and connections linking his anthropological research to his eyewitness accounts of the area in modern times.

In an Antique Land is about the author’s journey to Egypt, which is inspired by finding the details of an Indian slave from the 12th century. The book details the people Ghosh met and the discussions he had with them. He holds various talks about the differences in religion and culture, stereotypes, and prejudice. For instance, Ghosh explains to a group of Muslim men about the Indian culture. During the discussion, one of the men tells him that Indians are perceived to be clever because they practice cremation to avoid judgment from Allah when the time comes. Moreover, the men are surprised that circumcision is not a Hindu practice.

The book has three different plots: that of Ghosh's stay in Egypt, the author's return back home, and the Indian slave and his master. Based on Ghosh’s research, the reader comes to know that the master of the slave was a merchant. He sent the slave to other countries and gave him money to trade. The author discovered these findings by analyzing manuscripts that were found in Fustat, Egypt and owned by Cambridge University.