Relic

Object Lessons explores the hidden lives of ordinary things, revealing their transcendent significance across cultures and eras. Relics, from religious artifacts to political and cultural icons, embody a culture's deepest values.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Object Lessons is a captivating series of beautifully designed books that delve into the hidden lives of ordinary things. Across cultures, religions, and eras, these objects hold profound significance beyond their literal purpose. From the bone of a Catholic martyr to the tooth of a Buddhist lama, relics serve as tangible conduits to the immaterial world. However, relics are not solely associated with religion. Objects of political, historical, and cultural importance also possess this transcendent quality. From Abraham Lincoln's death mask to Vladimir Lenin's embalmed corpse, Emily Dickinson's envelopes to Jimi Hendrix's guitar pick, relics represent the objects that the faithful perceive as more than mere possessions. These material items of sacred value reflect a culture's deepest values. Object Lessons is published in collaboration with an essay series in The Atlantic, further enhancing its impact and reach.

Weight: 128g
Dimension: 122 x 165 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9798765102282