The Bones of Saint Peter

A good, no-extra-fluff, telling of the story of St. Peter's bones. I didn't know the extent of the whole story before, so I enjoyed reading this. Would be a good gift for a fellow Catholic.

I find this book very interesting and well written. There are a couple of other books on this topic but this is the best of the lot. The first three times I read the book, it was in print form. I was excited when I saw that it is in electronic format.I do have one complaint, not about the content of the book, but you need to get a new typist. The manuscript is full of errors. I tried to flag them but there are just too many of all kinds.

I have only read 1/2 this book. Life took over and I haven’t been motivated enough to return to it yet.

Walsh's book on this subject is arguably the best non-scholarly work available, better even than Professor Guarducci's own book (published in English translation in 1960 as "The Tomb of St Peter"). Walsh did his homework, writes clearly, provides helpful diagrams and interesting photographs. There are also references and bibliography which enable a more curious reader to pursue the subject further. Readers who have been conducted through the "scavi" beneath St Peter's will find this a wonderful clarification of what they saw, those who plan to visit them will find it an excellent preparation. But, a very strong warning. The electronic text is horribly riddled with typographical errors, at least one or two per page. Some of them are easy to decipher, and almost funny, e.g., "Pope Pius XH's admitted personal fascination" or "Imagine an immense square shaft ... twenty 'jam feet on a side." Others so badly mangle words and numbers that it is impossible to decipher the original, sometimes important, word or date. That readers should have to engage in such an exercise does no credit to the publishers, and if it is at first an annoyance, it soon becomes distracting and frustrating. If you really want to read the book, you'll be happier with a bound copy.

An absolutely wonderful and scholarly examination of the history of the burial and bones and crypt of St. Peter which are all exactly where they have been since Peter died in Rome in A.D. 65-66.Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the history of the Catholic Church which has preserved Peter's burial site from the 1st century to our own.Loaded with informative details, photos, charts and sketches.It's on my list for a second reading some time in the future.

I recommend this book because of the history it tells of the actual construction of the Basilica in Rome. And the habits and secrets of the early Christians. Intriguing story with a few bits of humor thrown in. Good drawings and photographs for illustrations.

What fascinates me the most is the fact that Jesus said upon you Peter the rock I shall build my church he is literally buried under the alter at the Vatican

This book sucked me in, and I couldn't put it down.It reads like a mystery, and a historical lesson mixed with archaeology, science and Christ.I highly recommend this read, it's like a real life Indiana jones mystery.Highly recommended

Fascinating and riveting ecclesiastical archaeology as the Vatican team of excavators and Sanpietrini delve deeper and deeper under the Basilica. What they uncover is as exciting as a detective story, a pagan cemetery with exquisite decorations and then finally the Tomb of the Saint. One star off for the kindle edition which is riddled with mistakes. Does a machine make the transcription? The fact that all dates are registered as gibberish would suggest so.

(Years ago, there were three copies of this book in my local library. After the library was refurbished, these books had gone. I now have my own copy thanks to Amazon.)I visited Rome in 1992. What most fascinated me were the scavi - excavations - under St Peter's Basilica. (The bones of St Peter are under the high altar, located where he was taken outside the perimeter of Nero's Circus.). I was shown a hardback copy of the book, and sought to get a copy when I returned to Scotland.John Evangelist Walsh is meticulous in his description of the process and progress of excavations and discoveries, leading to ascertaining the history of the various artefacts, and assessing their significance. Good book, raising question of an expert update.

I am in the throes of reading this book. It is fascinating. I recently saw a programme where Pope Benedict said that it is most probably the bones of St Peter under the basilica at Rome.

Many thanks!

Excellent book that de-mystifies and corrects a number of the stories that are floating around regarding this topic. It also does not try to hide aome of the controversies that exist.