John R. Butler

Fascinating story essentially broken into three parts. Firstly Becket's assassination itself, a blow by blow account of how renegade knights pursued the archbishop through Canterbury cathedral until he was cornered by the high altar and killed.. Secondly the destruction of Becket's shrine by Henry VIII's commissioners and the supposed burning of his remains. Third, the hunt that has gone on ever since for his remains under the belief that loyal monks hid the sacred corpse before Henry's commissioners could lay hands on i., and that the remains still lie somewhere within Canterbury's grounds. In 1888 a skeleton was exhumed from an unmarked grave in the crypt and examined in the belief that it may well be Becket's. The skeleton which was re-exhumed in 1949, apparently matched Becket in physical characteristics and even showed evidence of head wounds, however, the Dean & Chapter declared it was not Becket's body and have refused to allow the grave to re-opened since. The book discusses this and other strange happenings in the cathedral, making for a fascinating historical detective story. A really gripping story recommended for all history lovers.… (altro)