"Those Holy Fields." Palestine, Illustrated by Pen and Pencil

by Samuel Manning

"Those Holy Fields. Palestine, Illustrated by Pen and Pencil" by Samuel Manning is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The work explores the intertwining of the topography of Palestine with biblical narratives, presenting a journey through the Holy Land while providing illustrations to accompany the text. Its main focus is to demonstrate the correlation between the physical landscape and the biblical stories that have shaped the region's history. The opening of this travel account introduces the author's purpose of examining Palestine in relation to the Scriptures. Manning details his journey to key locations mentioned in biblical texts, beginning in Jaffa, an ancient port steeped in history, and describes its significance in both legend and religious narratives. The narrative sets the tone by illustrating Jaffa's picturesque yet squalid conditions, contrasting modern encounters with ancient memories. Manning also reflects on the initial impressions of his companions, highlighting their awe upon arriving in the Holy Land and their subsequent disillusionment with the reality of the locations they had anticipated to be sacred.