Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Relics - Hardcover

"An entertaining... affecting inquiry into man's yearning for spiritual transcendence."--The New York Times Book Review "A globe-traveling tale of the one thing all humanity shares: the body."--"USA"" Today ""Reveal[s] the enduring power of faith, regardless of ideology, and the obsessive nature of religious belief -- which, as this entertaining book amply proves, is all too capable of taking peculiar turns."--"Los Angeles"" Times ""Manseau ... lavishly scatters gems ... as he travels the world in search of the bones, teeth, hair and other scraps from the religiously renowned.... A lively lope among fragments from famous faith figures."--"Publishers Weekly ""Adroit, worldly ... Transports readers around the globe to check out places accessible and remote where fabric, wood, sinew and other materials are venerated.... An amusing romp."--"Kirkus Reviews ""Talk about a long, strange trip.... There's proper respect for believers and a nod and a wink for the others."--Billy Heller, "The New York Post ""Manseau brings the same expansive perspective on belief to "Rag and Bone" that fueled his ... memoir, "Vows" -- the understanding that every leap of faith can benefit from a little push." --"Washington"" Post ""A beautiful, and at times very funny and insightful journey of faith, culture, religious history, and exotic locales.... A truly great book."--Sacramento Book Review "Manseau's unerring eye for detail makes for a fascinating travelogue. But "Rag and Bone "is more than that. Drawing on history, spiritual traditions, legend and contemporary reports, this book is a totally exuberant compendium of human beliefs, certain to satisfy devotees of all stripes."--Barnes & Noble Review "A thoughtful invitation to explore locations, myths, legends, and truths of relics.... In "Rag and Bone," Manseau brings bare bones to life, and he has composed an intriguing ... travelogue that takes the reader around the world, e

Peter Manseau studied religion and literature at the University of Massachusetts and Boston University. He is the author of "Killing the Buddha: A Heretic's Bible"; "Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son"; and "Songs for the Butcher's Daughter," a novel. An adjunct professor of writing at Georgetown University, he lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and daughter.