“The book describes the converse with all sorts of Syrians enjoyed by Miss Bell on a journey through the country east of Jordan to the Jebel-ed-Drûz, and thence, by Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, and Antioch, to the coast of Iskenderun.” (Ath.) “We get stories of shepherds and men-at-arms as they ‘passed from lip to lip round the camp fire, in the black tent of the Arab and the guest chamber of the Druze, as well as the more cautious utterance of Turkish and Syrian officials.’ She eschews politics, and points out that the wise traveller in Syria will avoid being drawn into the meshes of the Armenian question.... Much of her time was given to archaeological matters, but they are not her chief consideration in this book.” (Sat. R.)
“It is not too high praise to say that the book before us is the most charming addition to the literature of travel that has been published for many years—we had almost said, and we think we should be justified in saying, for many decades.”
| + + | Acad. 72: 210. Mr. 2, ’07. 2460w. |
“A most delightful account of travel in Syria in which the author shows a wide knowledge of desert lore and desert peoples, of archaeology and Asiatic politics, an unusual power of description, which, together with a keen sense of humor and fine dramatic touch, conveys the whole scene in a quite remarkable way.”
| + + | A. L. A. Bkl. 3: 95. Ap. ’07. |
“But after a searching criticism this book remains one of the best of its kind that we have ever read. A valuable map is appended, but, alas! there is no index.”
| + + − | Ath. 1907, 1: 159. F. 9, 1540w. |
“The author has made a distinct contribution to the literature of travel, and has put her name far up on the list of women who have written good travel-books.” H. E. Coblentz.
| + + | Dial. 42: 391. Je. 16, ’07. 670w. |