A massive undertaking, this widely read memoir of an American missionary in Syria and Lebanon during the nineteenth century has become a standard reference. Providing background and color for his own work, Jessup begins by summarizing the state of things in Syria when he arrived, noting the previous missionaries who had worked in this territory. The translation of the Arabic Bible and the establishment of his churches and institutions are discussed with an awareness of the opposition he faced. Describing the religious composition of the population, Jessup helps the reader understand some of the tragic incidents he faced. After laying the foundations for the Syrian Protestant College, the narrative turns to further difficulties encountered, but also the optimistic sense of success that would eventually arise from the work yet to be done. Encompassing the spirit of travel and adventure characterized by the Gorgias Historic Travels in the Cradle of Civilization, this two-volume recollection will find avid readers from missions-minded laity and historians of Syria and Lebanon alike.

Henry Harris Jessup (1832-1910) was a Presbyterian missionary to Syria and Lebanon. He studied at Yale University and Union Theological Seminary before moving to what was then known as Syria. While in Beirut he founded the Syrian Protestant College, known now as the American University in Beirut.