"Bernd Brunner’s fascinating survey of travelers to the ‘holy land’ from the time of Egeria to that of Kaiser Wilhelm II beautifully demonstrates the wide variety of motives that drove Jews, Muslims, and especially Christians to make taxing and often dangerous trips to Palestine. His highly readable account of their experiences in this multi-faith ‘contact zone’ provides intriguing sketches of many little-studied pilgrims, clerics, and scholars. As Brunner describes, the journey for some was inspirational, for others disillusioning; but the shock of actual contact was for many transformative, as it was also for the places they prayed, excavated, and attempted to ‘reform.’ His synthesis of these stories is a must for those who want to understand our very ancient longing to visit holy places, and the ways in which this longing contributes to the remaking of their political and social frameworks, infrastructures, and cultures as a whole."
Suzanne Marchand, Professor of History, Louisiana State University, author of "German Orientalism in the Age of Empire" (Cambridge University Press)
"Even when there is mention of this region in the news on a daily basis, we don't really know much about it. Or do we know too much? ... A trip to Jerusalem and the surrounding area was often enough a neurotic undertaking that said more about the psyche of the traveler than about the city visited. Piety, a thirst for knowledge and the hope of salvation influenced perceptions on the journey and the experience of a real, extant monotheism proved to be a reality shock. Bernd Brunner has written the cultural history of these journeys with a great deal of expertise and humor, offering a fresh approach to the Middle East."
Nils Minkmar, culture critic of Süddeutsche Zeitung
"A fascinating collection of stories of pilgrims, scientists, and adventurers. ... As an author well versed in cultural history, Bernd Brunner has a great sense for the entertaining things or the oddities that go hand in hand with pilgrimages. He makes full use of this, is very adept at finding sources. You really get all kinds of beautifully edited travelogues with wonderful sources and precise moments, so the whole book is really very, very entertaining."
Alexander Cammann, Die Zeit
"Israel and the Palestinian territories are located in a region considered holy by Jews, Christians, and Moslems. And while the timing of the book’s publication was unplanned, it is fortuitous: Brunner’s account depicts this place, (yet again) so fought over, as the site of more or less peaceful encounters and spirituality."
Matthias Heine, Welt am Sonntag
"His book can be read as a very special history that tells us a lot about people and their beliefs, about religions and preconceptions and we are also enlightened about the history of Palestine and Israel. A book that is definitely worth recommending, especially at this point in time."
Johannes Schröer, Domradio (radio of the Catholic church, Cologne)
"They Came to the Holy Land’ will appeal to anyone who is interested in understanding more of the background to the current situation in Israel and Gaza. It offers particular insight into how changing attitudes towards the Holy Land throughout the world led to the Balfour declaration in the early 1900s. While the book includes several figures from German history, including Martin Luther and Kaiser Wilhelm II, the material generally takes an international view of the journeys made to the Holy Land, consolidating its broad appeal."
New Books in German
Germany: Galiani Berlin bei Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 2024
(translation rights: Aleksandra Erakovic, aerakovic@kiwi-verlag.de)