From Khartoum to Jerusalem - The Dragoman Solomon Negima and his Clients (1885-1933)

In 2014, a collection of papers was found on eBay: a scrapbook, inside which was written ''Testimonial Book of Dragoman Solomon N. Negima''. The letters pasted into the testimonial book bear recommendations of Negima''s services as dragoman - a combination of tourist guide and interpreter - in the Holy Land, from travellers of different nationalities, social classes, religions, genders and races.Using these reference letters, and the first-hand published and unpublished accounts of the travellers themselves, this book tells the stories of several such tourists, including the intrepid Victorian female traveller, Ellen E. Miller, and an African-American minister, Rev. Charles T. Walker, who had been born into slavery. Between the lines of others'' letters, Solomon Negima''s remarkable life story also emerges: from a German mission school in Jerusalem, to the British army in the Sudan, to a successful career as a dragoman in Palestine and Syria, and finally to comfortable retirement with his son, Aziz, and daughter, Olinda, at a Mormon mission in Jerusalem.The discovery of this unique scrapbook allows us an insight into the lives of individuals whose histories would otherwise be lost to us, and a new perspective on the history of travel in the Middle East.>

About the author

Rachel Mairs is Lecturer in Classics at the University of Reading, UK. Her publications include Archaeologists, Tourists and Interpreters (Bloomsbury, 2015).

Product details

• Authors: Dr Rachel (Lecturer in Classics Mairs, Rachel Mairs, Rachel (Lecturer in Classics Mairs
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 05.05.2016
• EAN: 9781474255004
• ISBN: 978-1-4742-5500-4
• No. of pages: 280
• Series: Criminal Practice Series
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, HISTORY / Middle East / General, 20th Century, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries, Middle East, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Geographical discovery & exploration, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Social and cultural history, Middle Eastern history, Geographical discovery and exploration