The Lost Ark of the Covenant by Tudor Parfitt (2008, Unabridged, Compact Disc)

After ordering a book about the Lost Ark & having an audio book arrive, I listened to the adventures of Tudor Parfitt, as he tries to work out, what the Ark is and where it might be after he is corralled into searching for it (somewhat reluctantly and half heartedly it sounds) by the pressure of those he associates with.

Professor (as he is now) Parfitt, tipsily works his way around Africa and the Middle East, and interacts with a "debased copt", an israeli diamond merchant with links to the Mossad, a self proclaimed New Guinea Jew and a small host of other bizarre characters until he arrives at the conclusion that a burnt out shell of an old drum, held in a forgotten storeroom of a forgotten museum, is the or is a close copy of the Ark of the Covenant.

References to alcohol, either the lack of or being carried by our hero become more frequent as the book progresses which helps explain what appears to be a complete lack of cognizance of the dangers he walks into. In some anecdotes this succinctly demonstrates why Professors shouldn't be Adventurers (or if they are, take a friend who knows about security). eg; "Yes Professor, out of town slum bars with drunken locals are places where you can get expect to get robbed so don't go there".

This is no story of an Indiana Jones type adventurer but that of a scholar who didn't get shot, robbed, kidnapped or killed (or bitten by snakes) probably more out of blind luck than anything else as he tries to find the lost Ark in between the next glass of fine wine.

An interesting read (or in my case listen) & gives you an insight into the myriad characters seeking the lost Ark and shows why, after all this time it still hasn't been found.

Professor Parfitt: Cheers!