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The Sisters of Sinai: How Two Lady Adventurers Discovered the Hidden Gospels
In 1892, two sisters, identical twins from Scotland, made one of one of most important scriptural discoveries of modern times. Combing the library of St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai, they found a neglected palimpsest: beneath an unpreposessing life of female saints, they detected what remains to this day among the earliest known copies of the Gospels, a version in...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
August 18th 2009
by Knopf
(first published 2009)
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Agnes and Margaret - what a pair. I had read a good review of this book in the New York Times months ago but never bought it. When my good friend the Rev. Mary Earle recommended it and lent it to me, I was really looking forward to reading it mostly because these were women adventurers in the late 1800's. But what I discovered in reading about the twins' fascinating lives and travels there was so much more to experience in this book since Janet Soskice put their discoveries into the cultural c...more
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This was truly a delight to read. I felt like I was riding a pack camel right alongside these two amazing women. These twin sisters were smart cookies in an age when a very different role was expected of women. Brought up with a linguist for a father, they learned 12 different languages between them. In 1892, they traveled to St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai and discovered an early palimpsest Syriac version of the Gospels. They returned a year later with other scholars to copy the t...more
During the late 1880's, two Scottish sisters embarked on a journey to Mt. Sinai with the hope of viewing ancient writings which were housed at the Monastery of St. Catherine. In Victorian times, the role of women did not include being educated and scholarly much less being adventurers. Agnes and Margaret definitely did not fit that mold. Raised by their Presbyterian minister father, both sisters were educated, well travelled, and spoke many languages including the languages used in ancient time...more
The sisters of Sinai: how two lady adventurers discovered the hidden gospels by Janet Soskice is the fascinating story of how twin sisters from Scotland discover the earliest known versions of the Christian gospels.
Agnes and Margaret Smith, born in 1843, are educated at a coed school in Scotland, taking the same subjects as boys. When their father, a lawyer, discovers they are both good at learning languages, he makes a pact with them that for each language they learn he will take them...more
Agnes and Margaret Smith, born in 1843, are educated at a coed school in Scotland, taking the same subjects as boys. When their father, a lawyer, discovers they are both good at learning languages, he makes a pact with them that for each language they learn he will take them...more
Back when I was an undergraduate I spent two years living in the "Colony", the sprawl of buildings owned by Clare College at the foot of Castle Hill. The central building of the complex is a late Victorian mansion called Castlebrae, which had the following inscription on a plaque in the front hall:
This house was originally the home of
DR AGNES SMITH LEWIS (1843-1926) and
DR MARGARET DUNLOP GIBSON (1843–1920)
Inseparable twins, tireless travellers, distinguished...more
This house was originally the home of
DR AGNES SMITH LEWIS (1843-1926) and
DR MARGARET DUNLOP GIBSON (1843–1920)
Inseparable twins, tireless travellers, distinguished...more
This is an amazing book! It is well written and an excellent read. I had never even heard of these sisters (Agnes Lewis & Margaret Gibson). Their lives were exciting and their scholarly contributions on the highest of levels. According to sources, they were fluent in 12 languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, & Arabic. In the mid and late 1800's they traveled Egypt& Sinai 5-6 times without their husbands -- unbelievable. They made friends with the monks at the St. Catherine's Monastery in ...more
Soskice, Janet. THE SISTERS OF SINAI: How Two Lady Adventurers Discovered the Hidden Gospels. (2009). ****. This is the fascinating story of two sisters – twins – and how they managed to make one of the most important scriptual discoveries of modern times. Traveling from their native Scotland, the polyglot sisters visited Sinai, and, specifically, the monastery of St. Catherine’s at Mt. Sinai. There they discovered one of the earliest known copies of the Gospels, a version in ancient Syri...more
This non-fiction book is essentially a biography of Agnes Smith Lewis (1843 – 1926) and Margaret Dunlop Gibson (1843 – 1920), two Scottish twins who, through a combination of inherited money, staunch Scots Presbyterianism, and a good facility for languages and scholarship, markedly changed the face of the knowledge of very early Biblical manuscripts during the 19th century. Though non-fiction, the book reads like a novel, and is quite a fascinating read.
The sisters (Agnes was the eld...more
The sisters (Agnes was the eld...more
Agnes and Margaret Smith were born into wealth, allowing them to adventure unencumbered by practical concerns, but more fortuitously for the twins, their father had a remarkably progressive outlook on childrearing for a mid-nineteenth century Scotsman. John Smith supported his daughters’ education—unusual for the time, they were educated alongside boys—and Smith imbued in his young daughters a fascination with foreign languages and culture. The sisters were encouraged to live independently, and ...more
Two sisters, Agnes and Margaret, born in 1832 in England, both widows, traveled to the Sinai Peninsula in the 1890s searching for lost Biblical manuscripts. They were successful in finding early Gospel texts at the St. Catharine Monastery. They had traveled there by camel. It was interesting to see that these women with inherited money, whose mother died at their birth, who each married in their late 30s and early 40s, discovered a cause and pursued it by making several trips, forming good conne...more
This is the intrigueing story of two victorian-era Scottish ladies, twins, who traveled to Egypt and made one of the most important discoveries to grace the world of biblical scholarship. Within the confines of an isolated orthodox monastary in the Sinai, they uncovered one of the earliest known manuscripts of the Gospels.
I enjoyed these vigorous, independent, self-educated victorian ladies. Their travels were adventurous and fascinating, and their scholarly endeavros amidst the acad...more
I enjoyed these vigorous, independent, self-educated victorian ladies. Their travels were adventurous and fascinating, and their scholarly endeavros amidst the acad...more
This book was a rare surprise for me. I don't normally read history or adventure or biblical textual criticsm, but this book contains elements of each. This is the TRUE story of twin sisters, Agnes and Margaret, who lived during the second half of the 19th century. They were born in Scotland and raised Presbyterian. Due to Providence (who is an unseen but very real character in the story), they end up inheriting a fortune. Women were not permitted to attend university in Victorian England, ...more
To critics' delight, Soskice has resurrected the long-forgotten story of two daring women who bucked the conventions of their day and prevailed. Critics were quick to point out that this rollicking adventure tale will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers despite its religious overtones. Soskice's scholarship is impeccable, and she engages readers in the controversies surrounding the Bible in the late 19th century while skillfully evoking the prejudices of the Victorian era and placing her charm...more
If I could give this a 2.5 I would. The story is amazing, Scottish twin sisters make one of the great 19th century discoveries of early Christian literature by preparing themselves as language scholars so when they make their journeys to the Sinai they know what they have found -- despite Cambridge's big red NO! to women at the time. The telling of the story, however, was a mixed bag. I'd heard of these sisters and was prepared for a great can't put down tale, but the first part of the book l...more
This history is about twin sisters born in the early part of the 19th century in Scotland whose father believed women should be educated. Both women had an amazing propensity would language--and since they were wealthy--were able to pursue their interests. They traveled all over the Middle and Near East--with their knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syrian, Aramaic (and more)--they were well-equipped to talk to the natives. They discovered manuscripts of incredible value, which, they believed...more
I'm beginning to realize how much I love to read history!
This well written book, gives insight into the late Victorian era in England and the improving recognition of women in academia. Two wealthy twin sisters, with a yen to travel and a deeply religious bent, travel extensively in Egypt and the Holy land. While visiting the isolated monastery of St. Catherine's in the Sinai desert to look at old manuscripts, they come across a palimpsest whose bottom text appears to be an ancient ...more
This well written book, gives insight into the late Victorian era in England and the improving recognition of women in academia. Two wealthy twin sisters, with a yen to travel and a deeply religious bent, travel extensively in Egypt and the Holy land. While visiting the isolated monastery of St. Catherine's in the Sinai desert to look at old manuscripts, they come across a palimpsest whose bottom text appears to be an ancient ...more
Agnes and Margaret Smith might have looked like conventional Victorian spinsters, but they were anything but. These twin sisters from Scotland relished learning languages and traveling to remote locales, riding mules and camels and camping under the stars. They were each briefly married, and as grieving widows they threw themselves into adventure.
This book is the captivating story how the two women learned Greek and Arabic and traveled to a remote Sinai monastery where they discove...more
This book is the captivating story how the two women learned Greek and Arabic and traveled to a remote Sinai monastery where they discove...more
Such an enjoyable, fascinating (nonfiction) book! Perfect for "theo-nerds" like myself and anyone who enjoys what is essentially an academic "mystery" novel in a way. Dense with history, interesting personalities, suspense (of the academic kind) and adventure. The places she describes from Scotland to Sinai truly come vividly alive. Those interested in the history of Scripture and manuscripts will be especially keen to read it but others interested in religion generally shoul...more
In one sense, this is a charming tale of two sisters whose passion for 'truth' led them to learn ancient languages, travel through deserts, negotiate academic squabbles, and discover folios previously unknown to modern scholarship. On another level, this is a story of how work from the fringes often re-orients the center of social and religious life through the work of a faithful few. The church should always be in reform (so saith Karl Barth), and the heart of reform (be it how we read scriptur...more
I loved this book...what a fun read! I admit I probably would not have been quite so tickled by it if the heroines had not been Scottish Presbyterians...! Nonetheless, an absorbing synthesis of travel narrative and insight into the world of late nineteenth century biblical scholarship. I generally have little use for modern historical-critical and philological study, but I didn't have any trouble staying interested, and I don't think one would have to be very knowledgeable about the field or ...more
One of the things I liked best about this book is how the sisters did not allow themselves to be constrained by the societal limits imposed on women in the 1800's. Although women were not often educated in that time, their father did not ascribe to that theory, and taught them languages at an early age. Their father died when they were in their 20s, and, against popular opinion they traveled to Egypt on their own. This was just the beginning of their many travels. Along the way they learned abou...more
LynnB
rated it
Twin sisters, Agnes Lewis & Margaret Gibson (nee Smith), born in 1843, lived lives that were unusual for their time. Their mother died when they were two weeks old and their father raised them himself. He encouraged the girls to keep physically fit with exercise every day. He took the girls traveling around the continent, but only when they had mastered the language of the country they were to visit. They became fluent in about 12 languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, & Arabic. Several ti...more
A well-written biography of wealthy Scottish twin sisters who "adventured" to Egypt and St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai. Multi-linguists, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Siriac, Agnes recognized a Syriac version of the Gospels as the secondary text on a palimpset, which turned out to be among the earliest known copies of the Gospels. A good readable blend of biography, Biblical scholarship, academic politics at Cambridge, and history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Wonderful read for someone who is a an armchair traveler and enjoys tales of Biblical history. Two Scottish Victorians take off for the Sinai, cope with sand and camels, charm the reclusive monks at St. Catherine's Monastery and manage to be credited for their discovery although male scholars are sniffing around and trying to usurp their place. Excellent writing as well, lucid prose and a lively style. Pull up your chair to the fire and spend a happy Sunday reading.
I can't say enough about these two extraordinary women who, not typical Victorian and not college educated (because women were denied college entrance in the 1800s), mastered French, German, Italian, Spanish, along with Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and Syriac, traveled by camel, slept in tents, unaccompanied, to the Middle East six times, the first time in 1868, discovering in 1893 at Mount Sinai in Egypt an ancient manuscript of the Four Gospels written in antiquainted Syriac. They photographed 400 pi...more
Many was the time, when i had to put the book down to do something else, that I wanted to get back to this adventure. From never having heard of these two amazing twins, to really liking and admiring them, I learned so much from this book. i loved that the context surrounding their unusual lives enhanced their adventurous exploits. The writing was lovely, the story compelling, and the import is tremendous. A worthy read. Skip the two page intro. It put me off, thinking this was going to be a bor...more
Anyone interested in languages, British history, religion, women's studies or the Middle East will find a treasure within the pages of The Sisters of Sinai. It documents the lives of two women whose contributions to the history of religion have been invaluable. Thoroughly researched, it was a travelogue that made me feel, at times, like I was actually with them on their multiple journeys through treacherous terrain
SirPoochala
added it
Loved this book. Thank you Book Page for telling me about it. These sisters were remarkable and I uncovered yet another example of the Popes changing fact. I can't stop recommending this book! I'm planning a trip to Egypt next year and I'm considering traveling to the Monastery as a result of reading this book. I wouldn't have even known about it
Two indominable Scots sisters discover treasure of hidden scrolls in a remote ancient monastery. Part examination of ninteenth acedemic politics, women's role reversal, and history traveloge. This is all of a piece about late ninettenth century women, mostly British, who finding little to offer in traditional roles, stike out for themselves into the desert. Others include "Desert Queen" life of Gertrude Bell by Janet Wallach and "Passionate Nomad" life of Freya Stark by Jane...more
When I read history, I like it to read as a story, and also to educate me. If it spurns me onto learning more about the topic, all the better. This one did. Great characters in Agnes and Margaret, Victorian era women and scholars; history told in cultural context; a bit of Biblical scholarship;and an amazing story I did not know. A fine book.
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