The title of this excellent volume may be slightly misleading, since it is not a comprehensive chronicle of the many and varied theories and researches into the history of Old Testament scholarship through three centuries, of which several have appeared. Rather it is a series of portraits of fifteen of the most outstanding scholars, nine of whom were German, two were Dutch, one was French, one English, one Norwegian and one Swiss. The names reveal their eminence. Jean Astruc began by raising observations and questions about the sources Moses may have used to compose the Pentateuch; Robert Lowth set out vital facts about the structure of Hebrew poetry, and J. D. Michaelis and W. Gesenius set the knowledge of Hebrew language in a modern framework of linguistic understanding. The great biblical historians Julius Wellhausen, Albrecht Alt and Martin Noth receive full coverage, as does the great Dutch moderniser Abraham Kuenen. The pioneer literary critics, W. M. L. De Wette, B. Duhm, Hermann Gunkel and S. Mowinckel are given credit for recognising the literary character and formal structures which link the Old Testament closely to human religious and social needs. All these eminent names are portrayed in their national and cultural setting. The brilliant Dutch/Israeli Jewish Septuagint scholar and text critic I. L. Seeligman provides a link to this demanding field of research which combines oriental and classical traditions. Lastly the theologians Gerhard von Rad and Walther Zimmerli bring a modern, post-World War Two, dimension into the record. The exceptional quality of Smend's presentation rests with the personal, historically focused attention to the scholars he describes: what they were like to see, to hear and learn from; who their opponents were and which academic battles and rivalries they were engaged in. Each figure has a context of time, place and achievement which makes this a very enjoyable and informative read – far more than can be conveyed by mere lists and bibliographies. There is no lack of detail here, but the merit rests with the author's ability to place the reader on the student's bench and appreciate the qualities of some remarkable teachers. This is undoubtedly a book that is not to be missed. The story of the past three centuries of Old Testament scholarship is a doubly important one; first on account of the divisions among Christians that it has engendered, and secondly because it holds the key to Jewish-Christian relationships. The portraits presented here bring life to a subject that can appear dull, but this volume is very much a reader-friendly achievement.