The Serpent and the Rainbow

Praise for The Serpent and the Rainbow

“Mr. Davis’s book should become a classic in the literature of scientific adventure. He reports his adventures brilliantly, conjuring up characters and settings vividly and creating sinister suspense with the skill of an accomplished novelist.”

—Atlantic Monthly

“This first-hand account reads like inspired fiction. You can’t help but sink back in your chair and gleefully drink in the incredible journey that unfolds.”

— Glamour

“Certain to enthrall both the lay and the scientifically minded reader. He tells his incredible tale in a straightforward, highly readable manner.”

— Saturday Review

“As engaging as any fictional spy thriller … a must read for anyone fascinated by real-life adventures.”

— U.P.I.

“The rich flavor in this strange book is like that in the early Carlos Castaneda.”

— People

“Eloquent and dramatic… [Davis’s] greatest success is in revealing the world of vodoun without sacrificing the sense of wonder and mystery it evokes.”

— Village Voice

“The book is a thriller: Davis captures the excitement of a scientist hot on the trail of an elusive compound; he explores an exotic and beautiful country with the eye of a poet; he insinuates himself into Haiti’s secret societies and returns to tell us about it. It’s a virtuoso performance.”

— Baltimore Evening Sun

“You might call this Indiana Jones Goes Spooking. And spooky it is.”

— Playboy

“A powerful living cosmic view that questions and challenges the basic premises of western society and thought. A provocative look beyond the ‘black magic’ cliche.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“It is a remarkable story. I was fascinated by it.”

— Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park

“It is an exciting blend of adventure, science, and mysticism.”

— George Schaller

“Beautifully written. Wade Davis puts the search back into research and science back where it belongs — in the realm of high adventure. An absorbing blend of Journey to Ixtlan and The Double Helix.”

— Lyall Watson

“An interesting report on zombies, voodoo, and the secret societies of Haiti by an adventurous explorer of the botanical, pharmacological, and psychological mysteries of exotic cultures.”

— Andrew Weil, M.D., author of Spontaneous Healing

“Fascinating.”

— Peter Mattiessen