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Summary: A fascinating, but deeply saddening book
Review: Any one with an interest in either the beginnings of the Christian Church or the current Middle East should read this book. In an exciting and learned fashion, the author combines meticulous scholarship with lively prose that illuminates the centuries old traditions of Christinaity in the Middle East, and gives a strong indication of the hardships suffered by the Christian Church throughout the Middle East and in particular in the State of Israel.
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Summary: Great combination of travel writing and history
Review: As a history buff and someone who loves to travel, I found this book to be one of the better books I have read in recent years. First the history: Dalrymple not only retraces the steps of an late antiquity travelogue (a pair of monks journeying between the Upper Nile in Egypt to Mt. Athos in Greece), but also gives the reader a sense of the world through which these earlier travellers were passing. It is a facinating look at what was then the Byzantine provinces of Egypt, Syria, etc.
He combines this with modern-day travel writing: what things look like now, the policital and social climate, etc. For me, what made this even more engrossing was how many of the monasteries in which the monks stayed still exist as functioning establishments.
A reader of this review may be remined of Robert Kaplan's work (e.g., Balkan Ghosts), of which I am also a fan, and this is an apt comparison. But Dalrymple is a better author and perhaps a bit better at hiding his point of view when presenting his narrative.
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Summary: A must read for any human rights advocate
Review: As an orthodox Christian who grew up in one of the churches visited in the book (The Coptic Orthodox Church), I can say that this is one of the most moving and important books I have ever read. I applaud the author for bringing to light the truth of what really happened to Eastern Christians. He has successfully refuted Islam's biggest and longest enduring lie: that it has been always tolerant and accepting of Christians in the lands that it conquered. The ravages that Islam has inflicted and continues to inflict on the earliest and purest Christian traditions is a tragedy only exceeded by the indifference the remainder of the world's Christians have had towards this 1400 year long ethnic cleansing. I am glad that we are protecting the Baltic Muslims from an inhumane and hateful Serbian government. Isn't it time to protect the Christians of the Middle East from ongoing slaughters, persecutions, and injustice that has lasted for well over a thousand years? Finally, the book also invites Christians of all denominations to explore their roots and introduces them to a Christian faith inherited from the apostles themselves, a faith that has withstood the test of time.
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Summary: More than a travel book. First class.
Review: As one who finds the vast majority of travel books uninteresting, I'm pleased to say this is a real exception. Mr Dalrymple writes with style, knowledge and above all passion about the history and plight of the many Christian communities of the Levant, but without a hint of religious bigotry, although he appears to be a practising Catholic. He writes lucidly, and shows a lot knowledge about history and religion, but never appears to be showing off his command of language and history (Patrick Leigh Fermour, please note!). Unlike, say, Paul Theroux, he always comes accross as the sort of guy you'd like to be travalling with, someone who has a genuine interest in the people he meets. He has a sense of humour, too. I have spent some time (although not enough) in several of the countries he writes of, and can verify some of what he says, but his knowledge and insight is vastly greater than mine is. If you are travelling to the Levant, take this book with you, it'll help you understand so much. If you're not travelling to the Levant, read it anyway, whether you are religious or not. This should be mandatory reading for religious leaders and politicians everywhere
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Summary: Read this Book!
Review: At this time in world history a book such as this one is more important than ever. It is incredibly intelligent, informative and suprisingly humorus. Dalrymple journeys through the land of Christianity's birth and explores the death of the traditionin its native land. Along the way the reader is provided with insightful lessons in Middle Eastern and Chrisitan history. Most significantly, though, the book explores the inter-religious and inter-ethnic relations as they have panned out in the region both in ancient history and contemporary policies. I love this book and have recommended it to anyone who maintains any interest in Christianity, history, international policy or world religions. Read this book!
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Summary: outstanding book
Review: Before i read this book I didn't know that a travel book, particularly one about monasticism and religion in a desert region, could be so engrossing. Dalrymple deftly includes the fascinating ancient and modern history of a fascinating region with accounts of his encounters with incredibly interesting characters from the present. I can't wait to read his other books. My only previous experience with his work was a PBS-documentary on the "thomas christians" of kerala, India, which i also highly recommend. I must second the comment by another reviewer : i wish that every american (especially the kind that have only known of the history of this region from their fundamentalist sunday school classes/churches) would read this book. There does not have to be a clash of civilizations if you don't want there to be one.
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Summary: A stupendous achievement--excellent value.
Review: By the time I'd got through the first couple of chapters, I knew this would be my book of the year. Immensely readable, erudite, funny and full of valuable insights, this isn't only a book for those interested in Christianity (but it certainly would be an eye-opener for many who are in fact Christian). Dalrymple is unmatchable!
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Summary: A MUST for Middle East travellers
Review: Dalrymple follows the path of St. John Moschos (the mentor of St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, mentor of St. Maximus the Confessor, at least the greatest theologian of Byzantium) around the Levant, from Mt. Athos through Istanbul and South-Eastern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel to Egypt.
Dalrymple has an excellent understanding of Byzantine spirituality, and in a sense this book is a eulogy for that great civilization. He also has respect for the spirituality of its modern heirs, although he is occasionally condescending. He records interviews revealing the sorrows, superstitions, and enduring faith of Middle Eastern Christians. For me, some highlights included his accounts of the Turoyo speaking Surianis, the chant of the Urfalees, and modern Alexandria.
I wish he did a better job of presenting the situations of other groups--Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Jews, Shiis, the Hezbollah, without accounts of their history it's easier to demonize them. I wish he had gone a little more out of his way to correct Western perceptions of Islam. But even without this, his account of the history, archaeology, politics and spirituality of Middle Eastern Christian of all denominations make this an essential book for people interested in the Middle East and its Christian populations.
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Summary: Absolutely spellbinding, witty amd incisive.
Review: Dalrymple has penetrated the soul of Middle Eastern religions.I agree with him in that Christianity is an Eastern religion and he has exposed to us the jewels that reflect the true Church.On the side he has masterfully depicted the the ufortunate fate of the Kurds,and the Armenians before them, at the hands of the Secular Turks.Its odd that Christians feel threatened in democratic Israel but feel safe and content in dictatorial Syria.It is the book of the year 1999-2000.
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Summary: Absorbing travel account in the Near & Middle East
Review: Dalrymple has written a multi-facet travelogue on the Christian existence in modern-day Near and Middle East. I initially approached reading this as a pure travel book. As I reached the midsection, I realized that the book combined travel aspects (Byzantine architecture, battles, etc.) with the harrowing stories of religious persecution told by a myriad group of monks, priest, innocent bystanders, and various historical writings. Dalrymple weaves a talented tale of how modern countries in the Near & Middle East are coping with their Christian legacy. It even shocked me when I read how "modern Islam has kept several of the long-lost traditions of Christianity." Another remark sparked the same interest: "How Christianity is a product of the Eastern world, but has significantly lost connection with its birthplace." A truely great book!
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