Apostle: A 21st Century Quest for 12 Resting Places

In this profound and emotional journey to the heart of Christianity, Tom Bissell explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and traditions of the twelve apostles. Peter, John, Thomas, Matthew: who were these men? What was their relationship to Jesus like? This book provides well-founded and sometimes surprising answers to these age-old questions. Bissell not only delves into the identities of the apostles, but also examines how our perception of them has changed over the centuries. To find these answers, Bissell undertakes a year-long pilgrimage to the supposed tombs of the apostles. The journey takes him to Rome, Jerusalem, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain, India, and Kyrgyzstan. Along the way, he meets fascinating people—priests, paupers, a Vatican archaeologist, a Palestinian taxi driver, a Russian monk—with whom he has profound conversations about religion, philosophy, and politics. A brilliant synthesis of travelogue and religious history. Tom Bissell is an American journalist, critic, and author. Many of his travelogues are layered and political, historical or cultural rather than touristic. Bissell's previous books have won numerous awards (Rome Prize, Anna Akhmatova Prize, Best Travel Writing Award...). Two of his fictional stories have since been made into films. 'Expertly documented and fascinating... Bissell is a dream guide to these mysterious men... This is a serious book about the origins of Christianity that is also funny. How often do you come across that?' The Independent