Short Synopsis
From Chanan Tigay, a gripping account of one man's quest to find the oldest Bible in the world and solve the riddle of the brilliant, doomed antiquities dealer accused of forging it.

Full Synopsis
In the summer of 1883, Moses Wilhelm Shapira—archaeological treasure hunter and denizen of Jerusalem's bustling marketplace—arrived unannounced in London claiming to have discovered the world's oldest Bible scroll. When news of the discovery leaked to the excited English press, Shapira became a household name. But before the British Museum could acquire them, Shapira's nemesis, French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau, denounced his find as a fraud. Humiliated, Shapira fled the country. Six months later he was dead.

With the discovery of the eerily similar Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, investigators reopened the case, wondering whether the ill-fated merchant had, in fact, discovered the first Dead Sea Scroll, decades before the rest. But by then Shapira's scrolls had vanished.

Award-winning journalist Chanan Tigay set out to find the scrolls and determine Shapira's guilt or innocence for himself. The globetrotting hunt that follows vibrates with the suspense of a classic detective tale. Weaving meticulous research into fast-paced storytelling, Tigay spins a remarkable tale of history and theology; intrigue and scandal; greed, ambition, and the struggle for authenticity.

"Tigay's enthusiasm for his subject . . . bubbles through." ---AudioFile

"A work of broad appeal, for the history buff and mystery lover alike." ---Kirkus Starred Review

"Tigay offers a dynamic and satisfying account of a strange, remarkable man whose discovery could turn the world of biblical scholarship on its head." ---Publishers Weekly

"Tigay's talents for tracking down Shapira's scrolls and verifying them as inauthentic makes for a wonderfully entertaining read and places the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in historical context." ---Library Journal

"Readers captivated by the romance of biblical archaeology will find much fascinating material here." ---Booklist

Kirkus Review