Holy places.. How Hajj trips changed the world

The book Holy Places... A pilgrimage expedition, through nineteen picturesque sites around the world "One cannot accurately describe the splendor of Catherine Horlock's captivating and remarkably diverse novel" - Country Life Magazine This year, as has been the custom throughout the ages, many people around the world will embark on pilgrimages. But these journeys are not merely journeys of personal and spiritual devotion, but are also political acts, an assertion of identity, and an interaction with established historical narratives. Catherine Horlock traces the pilgrimage path through nineteen sacred sites—from the temples of Jerusalem to the banks of the Ganges, via Iona, Lourdes, Amritsar, and Buenos Aires—revealing the many ways in which this ancient practice has shaped our religions and our world. Pilgrimages have changed the destinies of cities, blessed dynasties, provided guidance in difficult times, and propelled progress toward good. Rich with insight, Sacred Places reveals the complex history and contemporary continuity of one of our deepest human drives.