New Books in Biblical Studies Ambra Suriano, "Narrative Paths Through Mamre and Sodom" (T&T Clark, 2025)
Sep 6, 2025
Ambra Suriano, who studied philology and biblical narratology, delves into the narratives of Mamre and Sodom from Genesis 18-19. She argues that these stories primarily address the knowledge of good and evil. Discover her insights into themes of hospitality, morality, and divine judgment, as they intertwine between Abraham and Lot. Suriano also explores narrative structure and symbolism, such as the sacred meal with God, highlighting the contrast between justice and corruption that permeates these biblical tales.
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Scholar’s Path From Cinema To Genesis
- Suriano recounts her scholarly path from philology in Rome to a PhD in narratology and work on biblical reception in Lancaster.
- Her initial interest in Sodom reception in art and cinema led her to view Genesis 18 and 19 as a single narrated unit.
Mamre and Sodom As A Mirror
- Genesis 18 and 19 form a continuous, mirrored narrative linking Mamre's daylight banquet to Sodom's night of absence and darkness.
- The mirror contrasts Abraham's dialogical justice with Sodom's overturned justice and destructive outcome.
Narratological Method Shapes Interpretation
- Suriano uses narratology and semiotics to read the episodes synchronically and identify five scenes and smaller narrative units.
- She analyzes narrator/character dynamics to show how knowledge organizes the narrative and character roles.
