The Serpent And The Rainbow: A Harvard Scientist’s Astonishing Journey into the Secret Society of Haitian Voodoo Zombis and Magic

Wade Davis

This book details the adventures of an ethnobotanist as he tries to uncover the mystery behind zombies in Haiti. In the beginning of the book, Davis describes how a New York psychologist named Nate Klein described to him the odd story of Clairvius Narcisse, who was pronounced dead and buried, yet showed up 18 years later back in the market place of his hometown claiming that he had been made a zombi and made to work as a slave until he escaped with some other zombies. Klein was completely convinced of the veracity of Narcisse’s story, and wanted Davis to travel to Haiti to discover which herbs and other toxins were used to “kill” Narcisse and then bring him back to life again. Davis accepts the mission, and then travels to Haiti to investigate zombies and Haitian Voodoo. But in order to discover how people are changed into zombies, he has to first gain the confidence and respect of the Voodoo leaders. Davis eventually accomplishes most of what he set out to do, along the way relating much about Haitian history and culture as well as Voodoo beliefs. The book is very compelling and well documented, including an extensive annotated bibliography, as well as a glossary and index.

status	Copy #1 (6872): in
genre	Magic » Occult
publisher	Stoddart
publish date	1986
popularity	checked out 2 time(s)