This beautifully written work bristles with theological insight and exegetical acuity. Students and teachers will appreciate Jill Middlemas's attention to the text's poetic artistry, cultural setting and reception history, along with her focus on feminist and post-colonial criticism. A perfect primer for university and seminary classes! * Louis Stulman, University of Findlay, USA * This guide is rich with information, not only on the Book of Lamentations, but also on themes in current biblical interpretation such as poetry, composition, reader response and theology. Jill Middlemas takes her point of departure in the poetry of the book and this leads to a thorough reading of Lamentations as both a work of art and a source of theological reflection for readers. * Else Holt, Aarhus University, Denmark *