The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis
304 pages, Simon & Schuster, 1997
Most people have probably heard of the film of the same name, but not of the book it was based on. The Serpent and the Rainbow is the true tale of ethnobotanist Wade Davis’ journey to Haiti to research the applications of Vodou zombie poisons to anesthesia. What Wade doesn’t realize when he agrees to this quest, is that the poisons are closely held secrets in Vodou society and deeply embedded in the religion of the Haitian locals. To wrestle the secret ingredients from their lips is no easy task. The Serpent and the Rainbow is an engrossing addictive read, once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down as Wade’s travels to Haiti are as full of my beloved ethnobotany as they are the Haitian religion. Wade is drawn like a moth to the flame to the mysteries of Vodou and falls in love with the beauty and complexity of its beliefs, unable to avoid tangling with the living gods of Haiti. His words show deep understanding and deep feeling for both Vodou and Haiti. If you are one who believes Voodoo to be black magic than I highly recommend The Serpent and the Rainbow to you, it will change your mind completely.
What is the best part of The Serpent and the Rainbow? For me it was Wade Davis proving that zombies are real. He exposes the internal workings of the secret societies and the rituals of Vodou – not to discredit them – but to show their power, beauty, and necessity. With his trusty Haitian teenage sidekick Rachel at his side Wade travels across Haiti talking to Vodou priests and queens, participating in their rituals, digging up bones from graveyards with Bokors and mixing poisons with them in the wilds… Wade’s tale is full of magic and mystery, faith overcoming disbelief.
Filed under: Books - Non Fiction Tagged: | Haiti, non-fiction, Serpent and the Rainbow, vodou, Vodun, voodoo, Wade Davis
