Review of Ussama Makdisi, Artillery of Heaven: American Missionaries and the Failed Conversion of the Middle East (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2008). Pp. 262. 35.00cloth,35.00 cloth, 35.00cloth,19.95 paper. (original) (raw)

Ussama Makdisi's Artillery of Heaven explores the complexities of 19th-century American missionary activities in the Middle East through the life of As'ad Shidyaq, a Maronite who converted to evangelical Christianity and faced persecution. The book critiques prevailing historical narratives by presenting a transnational perspective and underscores the multifaceted interactions between American missionaries and local populations, highlighting both conflict and coexistence. While thorough in its analysis, concerns arise over the treatment of key historical figures like al-Bustani, suggesting the need for deeper scrutiny.