Book Review: Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead

An Unexpected Trip Through the World’s Reliquaries

I picked up Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World’s Holy Dead by Peter Manseau expecting to read a scholarly history on some fairly esoteric religious beliefs. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that the book was actually a highly entertaining travelogue through the world of religious relics.

Relics, as used in the context of this book, are things of religious significance that are the subject of veneration. They are often the remains of a holy person or anything that came in contact with a holy person. In Rag and Bone Peter Manseau travels the world visiting reliquaries (the places where relics are kept) and meeting the people that venerate those relics.

The subject of relics is somewhat sensitive. Some people are very committed to the relics because of their religious beliefs. However, others may not be all that comfortable with the concept of veneration of a tongue or a bone or a hair. In addition, they may suspect that the objects being venerated are not what they claim to be and that those who venerate them are being conned. I appreciated how Manseau successfully walked a very fine line here. He acknowledged the skepticism of many readers but, at the same time, was respectful of the beliefs of those who have faith in the relics.

Readers of travelogues are, in effect, taking a trip with the author. Therefore, the first rule of a good travelogue is that the author must be a pleasant person with whom the reader would like to take a trip. Mr. Manseau unmistakably meets this requirement. I enjoyed his wry sense of humor and his personal perspective on the stops on his trip.

I found this book to be very entertaining. Through my travels with Mr. Manseau I learned something about a world with which I was unfamiliar and would not have ever visited. I give this book 4 stars and recommend it for those who are interested in a light book about religious beliefs.