The Relic Master

A Novel

De: Christopher Buckley

Narrado por: James Langton

Christopher Buckley’s “hilarious, bawdy, and irreverent frolic of a tale” about a sixteenth-century relic hunter and the artist Albrecht Dürer who conspire to fabricate Christ’s burial shroud reads “like Indiana Jones gone medieval” (USA TODAY).

The year is 1517. Dismas is a relic hunter who procures “authentic” religious relics for wealthy and influential clients. His two most important patrons are Frederick the Wise and soon-to-be Cardinal Albrecht of Mainz. While Frederick is drawn to the recent writing of Martin Luther, Albrecht pursues the financial and political benefits of religion and seeks to buy a cardinalship through the selling of indulgences. When Albrecht’s demands for grander relics increase, Dismas and his artist friend Dürer fabricate a shroud to sell to the unsuspecting noble. Unfortunately Dürer’s reckless pride exposes the trickery, so Albrecht puts Dismas and Dürer in the custody of four mercenaries and sends them all to steal Christ’s burial cloth (the Shroud of Chambéry), Europe’s most celebrated artifact. On their journey to Savoy where the Shroud will be displayed, they battle a lustful count and are joined by a beautiful female apothecary. It is only when they reach their destination they realize they are not alone in their intentions to acquire a relic of dubious legitimacy.

“A rollicking good time, Christopher Buckley has transported his signature wit and irreverence from the Beltway to sixteenth-century Europe in The Relic Master” (GQ). This epic quest, “as rascally and convivial as any that Mr. Buckley has written” (The Wall Street Journal), is filled with fascinating details about art, religion, politics, and science; Vatican intrigue; and Buckley’s signature wit “holds the reader till the very last page” (The New York Times Book Review).

OMG Brilliant

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Revives my faith in Western Civilization. Perfect blend of history, drama, erudition, and wit. Buckley shows off his formidable upbringing, combined with contemporary charm

What did you like best about this story?

The fastidious narration of foreign and obscure references

If you could rename The Relic Master, what would you call it?

I wouldn't change a thing

Indulge yourself!

Though it starts a little slowly, once the story gets going it is a marvelous tale. Set in the midst of the Lutheran Reformation it carries the listener into the world of relics and indulgences that sparked Luther into action. I loved it.
It is splendidly performed. One becomes entwined with the richly formed characters.

Enjoyed it a second time

I revisited this book and listened to it a second time. My rule is that if I listen to a book twice I have to give it 5 stars, so I upgraded my rating.

A bit slow to start, but great fun!

A cheeky tale of a relic master, a painter, a fake shroud of Christ, another fake shroud, a quest, a maiden and a couple of bawdy soldiers. Although a bit slow to start, it's intelligent and peopled with hilarious characters. Stick with it until the quest begins and you won't regret it.

Historical and funny

An interesting tale of the religious madness that was once a way of life! I bought this book on a chance but found it to be a good listen.