travel Gospel land

A fine end-plan of Jeruslem with a map of the Holy Land at the front.

Second copy publ by Methuen

H.V. Morton goes right though Palestine, Syria & Trans-Jordon, observing those things still visible today which illustrate or illuminate the Life and Teaching of Christ.

Lovely and evocative, In the Steps of the Master not only chronicles the 'modern' Palestine of the 1930s, and discusses the objects (and history?) of pilgrimage, but simultaneously re-imagines Scriptural texts in their original settings. Morton contributes local, physical context and historical, political, and social information, resulting in a number of 'aha!' moments. Particularly enlightening - to me - was the section on Galilee.

His tone is interested, well-informed, and respectful, though by no means authoritative. Morton was famous for 'scooping' the discovery of King Tut's tomb in the 1920s, and went on to become an adept and successful travel writer. His style is simple but effective, full of striking visual imagery and a personal, reflective musing on what he sees or imagines. In this, he crafted a book that even within his own lifetime became difficult to duplicate (see his foreword of the 1960s). As is particularly appropriate to a region so deeply imbued with history, In the Steps of the Master ranges throughout from happenings of the Old Testament to the occurences of the moment.

There are, as well as the obligatory stops, trips to Samaria to meet with a Samaritan family; to 'rose-red Petra'; digressions on Bethlehem and the crusades; descriptions of current political feelings, of hookah-smoking at night, of Solomon's stone quarries, or monasteries set deep in the hills....of the remains of Capernaum and Bethsaida, of local customs, and the sitting of a tribal court (among other things). The book covers a lot of ground, not all of it expected, yet in so doing follows - and illuminates - the steps of the Master, and the eternal criss-crossing steps of those who paved the way for Him, of those who walked with Him, and of those who followed. ( )

Essays & Travelogues/History/Middle East - Israel/Travel/Travel - General