I have decided to read Ian Wilson's books on the Shroud of Turin in order, to see how his views have changed over time and how he has influenced the study of sindonolgy. Wilson's writing is easy-to-understand and his grasp of all the research (in a time before internet research) is astounding. This 1986 book is partly a summary of his 1978 work on the Shroud. This work is also a summary of all the conclusions made after the STURP team conducted a series of tests on the Shroud of Turin in 1978. Again, Wilson points out all of the reasons that the Shroud might be an authentic relic of the first century, of a crucifixion victim, and, by extension, of Jesus Christ. He does take on, rather ecumenically, the skeptical ideas of Walter McCrone (chapter 5), who maintained that he looked at samples from the Shroud and found what he believed was "iron oxide... as a paint... mixed with some form of gluey binding agent" (p. 62). So, according to McCrone, it's a forgery of the 1300s, a clever painting of iron oxide. Wilson counters this with his chapter 6. It is a convincing case against McCrone, but not an ironclad one. (Joe Nickell, skeptic extraordinaire, is mentioned [p. 68]; he is un-irenic.) Again, Wilson gives his Shroud-was-Mandylion theory, in thumbnail sketch. The Pray codex is mentioned. A neat source is adduced (p. 114), on the whole idea that the Mandylion (Image of Edessa) was the Shroud, from AD 1130: "This displayed to those who gazed on it the likeness and proportions of the body of the Lord." Again, Wilson heartily suggests radiocarbon dating (chapter 8), hoping (between the lines) that it will date from the first century AD, but he does manage to, ever so slightly, (pp. 136-137) note that any radiocarbon dating will be subject to doubts and reinterpretation. Basically, a summary of his 1978 book, plus some science, with nice pictures, some in color. A good set of endnotes; a good set of bibliographies; an index. It's a good pictorial adjunct to his 1978 book on the Shroud. ( )