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 helps the reader understand some of the tragic incidents he faced, but also the optimistic sense of success that would eventually arise from the work he had 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.