The Syriac Pseudo-clementines: Clement I of Rome (Pseudo-), an Early Version of the First Christian Novel (Apocryphes) (Apocryphes, 14)

F. Stanley Jones' Syriac Pseudo-Clementines is a sort of hybrid of the 'Recognitions' and the 'Homilies', copied in 411 CE. The first part contains 1-3 of the 'Recognitions' plus the opening of 'Recognitions' 4. The second part, the work of a different translator, contains 'Homilies' 10-14, with additions from 'Recognitions'. Jones supplies excellent notes: parts omitted by Rufinus, added by the Recognitionist, interpolated, etc. are clearly stated. The introduction is a very thorough examination of the full Pseudo-Clementinecorpus. Jones gives a modern translation, moderated by adherence to Syriac word order, sentence and paragraph structure, as far as possible, so that sometimes the reader needs to flex interpretive muscles to understand the string of words. Overall, the content of the book couldn't be better. The shortcoming is the book itself. For 55 Euro, or $70 US, one might expect a book that is flexible and durable. Not so. The book is neither. The book is paperback, smaller than most 'trade' paperbacks, but larger than 'mass market' paperbacks. While the pages and cover are of excellent quality, the rigid glue spine resists opening, and seems liable to cracking, and is not flexible. This book wants to stay closed. Two firm hands are required to keep it open. This book will never lay flat. I wonder if the bosses of Brepols have ever held a book!