Measuring Jerusalem: The Palestine Exploration Fund and British Interests in the Holy Land [Hardcover]

John James Moscrop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0718502205 | ISBN-13: 978-0718502201

Founded in 1865, the Palestine Exploration Fund was, for its first 25 years, both the principal British exploration society in the Holy Land and a surveying body which was heavily dependent on the Royal Engineers and the War Office. Survey work was closely linked to military interests as well as to biblical, historical and archaeological research. Famous names involved with the work of the Fund included Charles Wilson, the man instrumental in establishing an organized British military intelligence system, Charles Warren, destined to become Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Claude Conder, Lord Kitchener, arhaeologists Sir William Flinders Petrie, Frederick Jones Bliss, R.A. McAlistair and Duncan MacKenzie, Charles Leonard Woolley and T.E. Lawrence. This book presents a history of the Fund, covering the period from 1800 to 1914. Use is made of the Fund's own records to illustrate its work and to show the involvement of the War Office. An overview of British interests in the Holy Land is also included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The history of the Palestine Exploration Fund from 1865 to the start of the Great War is of interest because in it can be found the seeds of many of the problems that beset Palestine now. John Moscrop's meticulous and detailed account shows how pious Victorian Englishmen translated their devotion to the text of the Bible into a belief that the land described in it belonged to them in a spiritual sense."
—Edward Fox, Journal of Palestine Studies, Autumn 2001


"…few students of the history and literature of Orientalism have noted [that] over recent years research has focused on representations of the Orient and neglected to investigate the actual dynamics and machinery of the discourse of empire. John James Moscrop's study of the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) contributes towards filling this gap." -Billie Melman, Vitorian Studies journal

About the Author

John James Moscrop is a barrister.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Leicester Univ Press (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718502205
• ISBN-13: 978-0718502201
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,927,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Measuring Jerusalem - The Palestine Exploration Fund..., December 23, 2000

By 

H. Sidor (Rechasim Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Measuring Jerusalem: The Palestine Exploration Fund and British Interests in the Holy Land (Hardcover)

Measuring Jerusalem is a well researched and documented book which gives an excellent view into a(as yet) little known period in the history of Palestine, and the British role therein. The 19th century "opening" of Palestine and European conflicting interests (especially British) are the main focus of the book. Details of the "Imperialist" aims and manipulations are combined with the descriptions of the adventures of the intrepid explorers (many of whom played a dual role as explorer and spy). I especially enjoyed the personal stories of the explorers themselves and their adventures in Palestine (such men as Sir Charles Warren, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, James Finn, T.E.Lawrence are talked about). I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Palestine, it's history, it's exploration and it's role in 19th century Imperialism.