‘Veritas is a fascinating journey into theology and academia, meticulously researched, well-written, consistently engaging.’
Gregg Easterbrook, author of It’s Better Than It Looks
‘Intriguing religious/true-crime story involving a possible wife of Jesus … A lengthy yet fascinating tale of how one scholar was duped, both by a con man and by herself.’
Kirkus Reviews
‘[T]his meticulous account is packed with enough intrigue to keep readers piqued.’
Publishers Weekly
‘If turning scraps of ancient papyrus into an enthralling true-crime escapade takes a miracle, consider Ariel Sabar a miracle worker … Veritas, Latin for truth and inscribed on the Harvard seal, is an extraordinary and mind-bending adventure into ancient traditions with modern consequences.’
Shelf Awareness
‘Sabar has written a true story of mystery and intrigue … [B]lending religious history with a tale of deception … [A] well-researched, engrossing backstory of failed discovery from a noted scholar.’
Jacqueline Parascandola, Library Journal
‘A work of exemplary narrative nonfiction … [F]itting neatly into the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction category … Provocative and probing.’ STARRED REVIEW
Booklist/American Library Association
‘Mesmerising … [Sabar] has our attention, and slowly, remorselessly, he pays out the rest of his devilish yarn … Savour the denouement — and don't leave at intermission.’
Alex Beam, Wall Street Journal
‘[A] madcap, unforgettable book … [F]or enthusiasts of ancient Christianity … and readers of idea-driven capers, whether by Daniel Silva or Janet Malcolm. It’s a barely believable tale, crazier than a tweed-sniffer in the faculty lounge.’
Mark Oppenheimer, New York Times Book Review
‘Fascinating … Ariel Sabar digs out every detail in his engrossing book … The interaction of these two characters, one with a deep need to deceive and the other with a desperate need to believe, presents a wholly human story of frailty and weakness.’
Tom Gjelten, NPR
‘[A]n exhaustive examination of the whole affair in a work of exemplary narrative nonfiction … Provocative and probing, this will entice readers interested in the history of early Christianity.’
Ilene Cooper, Booklist
‘Extraordinary … [A]stonishing … The book is as good as a detective novel, possessing plot, subplots, hidden motives, bees in eccentric bonnets and startling revelations.’
Katherine A. Powers, Minneapolis Star Tribune
‘A tour de force of investigative journalism … Mr. Sabar’s book is a model on how to investigate any new ‘discoveries’ from ancient texts. It is also a cautionary tale about the acceptance of experts and expertise at face value.’
Rebecca I. Denova, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘Sabar offers plenty of fascinating arcana about scientific and historical methods for testing and analysing such an object, and he also brings to life many of the people involved … Veritas is packed with details and tells a complex story, but Sabar’s prose is clear and inviting, and the book is structured with a well-tuned sense of suspense. It’s a wonderfully absorbing example of truth being stranger than fiction.’
Colette Bancroft, Tampa Bay Times
‘It’s a story about journalism done right, about Sabar’s own capable, dogged sleuthing to get to the bottom of those famous headlines … Veritas offers a vital lesson less about Christianity than about what happens when a scholar decides that the story is more important than the truth.’
Lucas Wittmann, Time
‘A thriller for eggheads.’
Boston Globe
‘A testament to the value of investigative journalism … [F]ull of shocking and revelatory moments.’
Daily Beast
‘Scintillating … Sabar is a master storyteller.’
Tablet
Praise for My Father's Paradise:
‘A biography, a memoir, a meticulously reconstructed history of a largely vanished people and place … Transcending mere reportage, it acquires a novel-like warp and weft.’
Los Angeles Times
Praise for My Father's Paradise:
‘Sabar offers something rare and precious — a tale of hope and continuity that can be passed on for generations.’ STARRED REVIEW
Publishers Weekly
Praise for My Father's Paradise:
‘Graceful and resonant.’
New York Times Sunday Book Review
Praise for Heart of the City:
‘A beguiling romp.’
New York Times
Praise for Heart of the City:
‘Charming, uplifting tales.’
Library Journal
Praise for Heart of the City:
‘Quirky true tales about city landmarks and chance encounters.’
New York Magazine
‘Ariel Sabar tells a fascinating story.’
Craig Brown, The Mail on Sunday
‘A dramatic tale of gullibility, deception, ideology and academic politics.’
Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education
