Sephora: A Hebrew Tale, Descriptive of the Country of Palestine, and of the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Israelites

Using the literary device of a novel to frame a travel account, Mrs. N.W. Oliver "attempts to give a sketch of the manner and customs of the ancient Israelites, and also a true general description of the country of Judea" (see Preface, p. vii). ‡b Sephora, daughter of basketmakers, is the literary device through which the reader is introduced to such customs as sacred dances, marriage rites, and holidays. The cave of Machpelah, the old synagogues, and the narrow streets of Jerusalem form the background for some of the action. In its final chapter, the "Hebrew" tale changes course dramatically when Sephora's dead son is brought back to life by a "heavenly stranger," throwing into question the assumptions and motives informing this novel. The lengthy 97-page appendix in volume 2 is a detailed dictionary of ancient terms, customs, and geography drawn chiefly from Burder's Oriental customs, and travel accounts by Clarke, Shaw, and Tavernier;