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Reviews
The Sisters of Sinai: How Two Lady Adventurers Discovered the Hidden Gospels by Janet Soskice
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
About five years ago, a friend asked me if I knew of a history of two sisters who founded some important Biblical documents in a monastery. That was about all he knew and somehow I found this book for him. This is why I love being a librarian. At the time I thought it sounded interesting and added it to my "to be read" shelf. I guess it didn't call me that strongly since it took me all this time to get to reading it myself.
However, I am glad that I finally made the acquaintance of Agnes and Margaret Smith. They certainly were not your average Victorians, at least as I understand Victorian women. Twin sisters, born in Scotland, their upbringing, faith and subborness helped them to make amazing biblical discoveries. They were unusual women and this book makes sure we don't forget all they did. Their abilities put most moderns to shame.
I wish I knew why Soskice decided to write this book. I suspect there is a good story there. Did she run across them while doing other research? I will have to put my librarian hat on once again and research Soskice.
If you are interested in history, like adventure stories or just want to learn about a remarkable pair of twins, you should try this biography. I am guessing that you have not met many women like the Smiths.
However, I am glad that I finally made the acquaintance of Agnes and Margaret Smith. They certainly were not your average Victorians, at least as I understand Victorian women. Twin sisters, born in Scotland, their upbringing, faith and subborness helped them to make amazing biblical discoveries. They were unusual women and this book makes sure we don't forget all they did. Their abilities put most moderns to shame.
I wish I knew why Soskice decided to write this book. I suspect there is a good story there. Did she run across them while doing other research? I will have to put my librarian hat on once again and research Soskice.
If you are interested in history, like adventure stories or just want to learn about a remarkable pair of twins, you should try this biography. I am guessing that you have not met many women like the Smiths.
karakane's review against another edition
4.0
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
slferg's review against another edition
5.0
Agnes and Margaret Smith were twins born in Scotland in1843 to Presbyterian parents. Their mother died 2 weeks after they were born. Their father never remarried. He had unusual ideas on the rearing and education of girls for that time. Both Agnes and Margaret were highly educated and strictly reared in the church. They learned modern Greek along with other subjects reserved for boys. After the death of their father they moved to Cambridge because that was where the learning was for subjects they wished to know about. They were interested in the new discoveries of ancient Bible manuscripts. Margaret fell in love and married James Gibson, a respected scholar. He died after a few years and Agnes hated to leave her alone because her grief was so deep. At about this time, Agnes met Samuel Lewis, the Fellow of the Parker Collection at Corpus Christi College. They became embroiled in an argument about the correct pronunciation of ancient Greek. Samuel was delighted and he and Agnes married. Margaret lived with them. But Lewis died after a few years. A scholarly friend of the twins had discovered a manuscript at a monastery in the Sinai and said there were some others he would like to have seen, but didn't get a chance.
nwhyte's review against another edition
5.0
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 Arabic & Syriac scholars.
Lampada Tradam. [Let me hand on the torch]
I never went much to Castlebrae but was always intrigued by the plaque and hope that some day I would find out the story behind it. Thanks to Janet Soskice's book, I now know much more: the Smith sisters, Agnes and Margaret, born in Scotland and fabulously rich, developed a strong interest in the roots of ancient scripture and had the means, motivation and ability to cultivate the monks of St Catherine's monastery in Sinai, where in 1892 they discovered a palimpsest which contained the oldest Syriac text of the Gospels known today. Then in 1896 they alerted Jewish scholars to the existence of the Cairo Genizah, which is still being transcribed in Cambridge to this day. For these efforts the University of Cambridge gave them no official recognition at all (it was not until 1921 that women were even awarded degrees for which they had qualified, and not until 1948 that they were given formal equality with men in the university). They also founded Westminster College, which nestles at the corner of Madingley Road. Janet Soskice has made it a fascinating story of women infiltrating the intellectual establishment (granted, rich women who had no children and no need to actually work) in the social and geopolitical context of the day. Strongly recommended.
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 Arabic & Syriac scholars.
Lampada Tradam. [Let me hand on the torch]
I never went much to Castlebrae but was always intrigued by the plaque and hope that some day I would find out the story behind it. Thanks to Janet Soskice's book, I now know much more: the Smith sisters, Agnes and Margaret, born in Scotland and fabulously rich, developed a strong interest in the roots of ancient scripture and had the means, motivation and ability to cultivate the monks of St Catherine's monastery in Sinai, where in 1892 they discovered a palimpsest which contained the oldest Syriac text of the Gospels known today. Then in 1896 they alerted Jewish scholars to the existence of the Cairo Genizah, which is still being transcribed in Cambridge to this day. For these efforts the University of Cambridge gave them no official recognition at all (it was not until 1921 that women were even awarded degrees for which they had qualified, and not until 1948 that they were given formal equality with men in the university). They also founded Westminster College, which nestles at the corner of Madingley Road. Janet Soskice has made it a fascinating story of women infiltrating the intellectual establishment (granted, rich women who had no children and no need to actually work) in the social and geopolitical context of the day. Strongly recommended.
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