Sisters of Sinai by Janet Soskice
Published in Hardback by Chatto & Windus £17.99
Hattip to Maggi Dawn for writing the following on her blog (check out the special offer below)
In 1892, two intrepid sisters made one of the most important religious finds of the century. Hidden amongst the scrolls in the monastery library on Mount Sinai, they spotted what looked like a palimpsest: one text written over another. Both sisters had a great love of learning languages but it was Agnes who was able to recognise the underlying document for what it was – a manuscript that remains to this day one of the earliest known copies of the Bible written in ancient Syriac. In this enthralling book, Janet Soskice uses the story of the Smith twins to take the reader on a truly nineteenth-century journey. In part a physical journey – we trace the footsteps of the admirable Agnes and Margaret as they voyage to Egypt, Sinai and beyond, clutching their Murray’s guidebook and enduring camels and unscrupulous dragomans - it is also a tale of the excitement and mystery of the Gospel origins at a time when Christianity was under attack in Europe, and of two women who overcame insuperable odds to become world-class scholars with a place in history.
To get 25% off plus free P&P* visit www.rbooks.co.uk and enter the promotional code SINAI. *UK only, Offer available until 30th April 2009
"In Sisters of Sinai Janet Soskice has achieved the impossible - she has brought biblical scholarship to life. A gripping story of two spirited women determined to pursue the truth whatever the cost, with camels to boot. Wonderful." Sara Wheeler
"An extraordinary and compelling book, combining vivid travel adventures, wonderful characters and absorbing stories of the mind and heart” John Cornwell
In 1892, two intrepid sisters made one of the most important religious finds of the century. Hidden amongst the scrolls in the monastery library on Mount Sinai, they spotted what looked like a palimpsest: one text written over another. Both sisters had a great love of learning languages but it was Agnes who was able to recognise the underlying document for what it was – a manuscript that remains to this day one of the earliest known copies of the Bible written in ancient Syriac. In this enthralling book, Janet Soskice uses the story of the Smith twins to take the reader on a truly nineteenth-century journey. In part a physical journey – we trace the footsteps of the admirable Agnes and Margaret as they voyage to Egypt, Sinai and beyond, clutching their Murray’s guidebook and enduring camels and unscrupulous dragomans - it is also a tale of the excitement and mystery of the Gospel origins at a time when Christianity was under attack in Europe, and of two women who overcame insuperable odds to become world-class scholars with a place in history.
To get 25% off plus free P&P* visit www.rbooks.co.uk and enter the promotional code SINAI. *UK only, Offer available until 30th April 2009
"In Sisters of Sinai Janet Soskice has achieved the impossible - she has brought biblical scholarship to life. A gripping story of two spirited women determined to pursue the truth whatever the cost, with camels to boot. Wonderful." Sara Wheeler
"An extraordinary and compelling book, combining vivid travel adventures, wonderful characters and absorbing stories of the mind and heart” John Cornwell
1 comment:
Yes, I saw this book advertsied too and thought I might get it. In Reform it mentions a free event at the URC bookshop on 30th April to meet the author. So WIMN, send off for your free tickets if you can do that date and post a write up of the event when you come back. I can't go - will be remembering the bible with some folks in SW that week.
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