Rat Scabies and The Holy Grail

Rat Scabies and The Holy Grail
AuthorChristopher Dawes
LanguageEnglish
GenreGonzo journalism
PublisherSceptre Books
Publication date
2005, 2006
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Pages325
ISBN978-0-340-83211-0
OCLC439637364

Rat Scabies And The Holy Grail is a 2005 book written by Christopher Dawes, published by Sceptre Books in the UK and Thunder's Mouth Press in the US. It is a gonzo-esque quest to find the Holy Grail by punk rock legend Rat Scabies, the one-time drummer of The Damned, with whom Dawes strikes up a friendship when the two become neighbours in the London suburb of Brentford.[1][2][3][4]

The book, which has been described as "The Da Vinci Code gets the punk rock treatment" (The Bookseller), begins with Scabies introducing Dawes to the alleged mystery of Rennes-le-Château, a remote French village associated with all manner of esoteric conspiracy theories. Scabies and Dawes make several trips to Rennes-le-Château and also visit other places said to be linked to the Holy Grail, including Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. The book is an often hilarious account of the pair’s adventures - they even manage to wangle themselves an invitation to a Knights Templar initiation ceremony - and its supporting cast of characters includes Henry Lincoln (the author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail) and a CIA operative, plus assorted treasure hunters, occultists, alien channelers, reincarnated medieval heretics, and numerous members of secret societies.

  1. ^ "RAT SCABIES AND THE HOLY GRAIL". Kirkus. 1 May 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  2. ^ Sinclair, Tom (15 July 2005). "'Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail'". CNN. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ Sawyers, June (1 June 2005). "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail". Booklist. 101: 1742. ISSN 0006-7385.
  4. ^ "Christopher Dawes: Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail". The Bookseller. 5164: 37. 4 February 2005.