October 1, 2017
A history of the town of Bethlehem, both sweeping and personal in scope.Screenwriter and novelist Blincoe (Burning Paris, 2004, etc.) tells the story of Bethlehem, home of his wife's family and therefore a significant place in his life. This is not a standard history of the town; the author laces the narrative with family stories, personal anecdotes, and his own reflections. Despite what readers familiar with Jewish and Christian Scriptures might assume, Blincoe explains that the town of Bethlehem itself only predates Jesus Christ by about two centuries, making it far less ancient than is popularly thought. Nevertheless, it is situated in a region with proof of human settlements going back 11,000 years. The author spends some time discussing the ancient peoples who lived around the immediate area before moving on to the town's famous role as the birthplace of Jesus. "This is Bethlehem," writes the author, "an old town facing the site of an even older town, sitting at the edge of the desert, just six miles south of Jerusalem." Blincoe explores Bethlehem's identity as a buffer between civilization and the desert, as a source of water for Jerusalem via ancient aqueducts, and as a holy pilgrimage site. The author also notes how, as centuries passed, women played a strong role in the continued formation of the town. In fact, he writes, "Bethlehem was built by women." Blincoe goes on to describe the sometimes-sordid roles of both Ottoman and British influence before delving into the post-Balfour history and identity of the town. Throughout, the author takes a deeply personal approach, seen mostly through his consistent mention of food, both as metaphor and as the subject of true stories. Though broader background can be necessary for the history of any particular place, Blincoe covers far more extra ground, telling the story of the Levant and of Palestine, occasionally pushing the story of the town itself into the shadows.Far from definitive but highly readable, anecdote-infused history.
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October 1, 2017
When Blincoe visits Bethlehemhis in-laws' homehe sees a place carrying a far more tangled history than most Christians realize when singing Christmas carols about that little town. Weaving up-close personal experience into an extensively researched narrative, Blincoe limns the developments that transformed Bethlehem from an agricultural region supporting Bronze Age olive-oil merchants to a bustling twenty-first-century city filled with tourist guides and quarry miners. In this winding chronicle, the politics of conquest loom large: readers see how its location at the edge of Jerusalem and in control of its water supply has exposed Bethlehem to assaults by a long list of invadersthe Seleucids, the Crusaders, the Mamluks, the Ottomans, the British, and finallyin 1967the Israelis. As he peels away the layers of culture this succession of overlords has given Bethlehem, Blincoe illuminates the continuing relevance of each fascinating layer. Though some readers may resist Blincoe's sharp criticism of what he calls the Israeli occupation, all will leave these pages with a richer understanding of an iconic city.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
Starred review from October 15, 2017
Novelist, playwright, and screenwriter Blincoe is an Englishman married to a native of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. They divide their time between London and Bethlehem, so he is in a good position to introduce readers to this small town located on the West Bank. He employs apt images to help visualize a scene and historical comparisons to help understand particular events. While situating the historical Bethlehem in religious as well as Jewish and Roman history, the author also provides the flavor of the contemporary city. Similar to James Martin's Jesus, this is part travelog, part history, and part memoir. But Blincoe, who has produced two documentaries about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shows more interest in current events and the political situation of Bethlehem (and Palestine generally). Using the Gospels, historical documents, archaeology, and his 1907 Baedeker, Blincoe weaves a tapestry of history, geography, and politics that illuminates this most famous of areas, here seen through the eyes of one who knows the place intimately. VERDICT Deftly written, this narrative has something to offer a wide variety of readers, whether interested in history, archaeology, religious connection, or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.--Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ
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