# The Holy Grail **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 30, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477 "2009-11-30T15:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E\_C\_Coleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d6d6ee/32.png) [@E\_C\_Coleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E_C_Coleman)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/1 "2009-11-30T15:43:25Z")
Sir, I read Cecil’s answer to the question regarding the Holy Grail with great interest as he wrote exactly what I would have written - up until about a year ago. Since that time I have - almost by accident - discovered the Holy Grail and seen it on several occasions. The History Press are publishing my account of the discovery in June next year. It is already being advertised on Amazon under the title ‘The Grail Chroncles’. Furthermore, if there is anyone interested in the Arthurian legends, the book contains an entirely new account of the origins of the legends. I cannot, at this stage, reveal the whereabouts of the Holy Grail (as the owners are not yet ready for the inevitable interest which will follow), but I can say that it is in England, and, no surprise, it is a chalice - as suggested by the early Arthurian accounts. Thank you for this opportunity, Yours Faithfully, E C Coleman ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/2 "2009-11-30T16:15:51Z")
I guess this is about [this one](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2444/what-is-the-holy-grail)… You misspelled “chronicles” in your book title? You need a new editor. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/3 "2009-11-30T19:49:26Z")
Perhaps you should tell The History Press them they plan to publish your book. Also fill in Amazon that they’re advertising the book, they don’t seem to know yet. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/4 "2009-11-30T19:57:10Z")
Hold on a second, let’s be polite. In fairness, there is a Grail book on [Amazon.co.uk](http://Amazon.co.uk), to be published next year by the History Press under the name [The Grail Chronicles: Tracing the Holy Grail from the Last Supper to Its Current Location](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grail-Chronicles-Tracing-Current-Location/dp/075245532X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259610865&sr=1-1), though why the author him/herself would get the name wrong is a bit odd. Mr/s Coleman, I’m intrigued. While I don’t doubt there are individuals or organisations that hold previously undiscovered chalices, what is it that indicates to you that this is _the_ grail? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/5 "2009-11-30T20:06:10Z")
On further investigation, there is an established author named EC Coleman who has published several historical tomes. [Here is the aforementioned Grail book](http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Grail-Chronicles.aspx) at The History Press. Interesting synopsis, though I will warn our guest that the denizens of this board are _very_ sceptical. > [@](#): > > This is the story of a plain silver chalice from the first century ad that now rests in the heart of England. From its momentous beginnings as the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper, and as the vessel used to catch His blood at the Crucifixion, to its unrecognised discovery in the late nineteenth century, the chalice has passed through the hands of saints, crusaders, kings, queens, Templar knights and ‘Guardians.’ This account revisits the beginnings of the Knights Templar and their rise to incredible wealth and power; it introduces a completely new version of the origins of the Arthurian legends; and it disputes the supposed loss of the Crown Jewels in the Wash and the cause of King John’s subsequent death. It re-examines the murder of Thomas Becket and resurrects the forgotten story of a knight who went from disregarded son and child hostage to Regent of England and Guardian of the Grail. The story reveals the reason behind one of England’s greatest church mysteries: an early thirteenth-century clue that has taken over 700 years to be deciphered. Most importantly of all, however, it establishes where the Holy Grail is now. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/6 "2009-11-30T20:07:53Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > Perhaps you should tell The History Press them they plan to publish your book. [They probably already know they’re publishing it, since it’s on their website.](http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Grail-Chronicles.aspx) ETA: what **jjimm** said. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/7 "2009-11-30T20:19:20Z")
Apologies. My search capabilities must be dwindling, I didn’t find it at either place. I did see several other historical books by the author, and scanned through those results without…uh, without results. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/8 "2009-11-30T20:26:26Z")
**E C Coleman** , have you drunk from the grail, and were you consequently rendered immortal? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/9 "2009-12-01T00:39:49Z")
You’re only immortal as long as you stay in the cave. As soon as you leave you start aging normally. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/10 "2009-12-01T02:45:23Z")
No, no, no! I have the Grail. I got it in college, where it was being used as an element in still lifes. If there is sufficient interest, I will post some photographs. I have not drunk from the Grail as I have been unable to get the layer of gunk off the interior. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/11 "2009-12-01T04:23:22Z")
So the Grail is a chalice, not a serving platter? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/12 "2009-12-01T04:27:05Z")
Yes, it is a chalice. It is also made of brass, not silver. It is marked in a language that is definitely NOT Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, or Greek. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/13 "2009-12-01T05:47:29Z")
I’ve uploaded a video of the Grail to photobucket. [Behold! The cup of the King of Kings!](http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/?action=view¤t=grail.flv) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/14 "2009-12-01T11:03:05Z")
“We already 'ave one, I’ve seen it. It is vehry nice.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/15 "2009-12-01T15:57:13Z")
**jjimm** said: > [@](#): > > … though why the author him/herself would get the name wrong is a bit odd. It’s called a typo. It can happen to the best of us. Or are you complaining he only listed part of the title? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/16 "2009-12-01T16:05:02Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > It’s called a typo. It can happen to the best of us. Or are you complaining he only listed part of the title? Both. But I acknowledge the book’s existence and am tentatively considering buying it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/17 "2009-12-01T20:28:03Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I have not drunk from the Grail as I have been unable to get the layer of gunk off the interior. Silly boy! The gunk is where all the mojo is. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/18 "2009-12-01T20:47:24Z")
Wait, are you saying if he gives it a thorough cleaning, it will cease to be a magical chalice of immortality and become just a shiny cup? **jjimm** , I fail to see the significance of either complaint. Tpyos happen. Thye are easy. As for citing only part of the title, he cited the bold-faced header part that should be easily identifiable, not the extended subordinate clause part that runs on for three pages and people will gloss over and is only there so people realize “Ah, this is an academic.” I mean, it’s not like he said the title was “The Grail Chronicles” when the actual title was “The Chronicles of the Grail”, or “The Chronicles of Mickey and the Grail”, or “The Grail Really Exists, Dammit, I Saw It, So There!” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/19 "2009-12-01T20:53:32Z")
We’re delighted to have **E C Coleman** here as a poster, and you’re very welcomed. However, we are not delighted to have you here if your only purpose is to tout your book. It’s one of the logistical tangles: we are pleased when one of our posters has a book being published, and we’re glad to allow them some publicity for it. We are not pleased when someone comes here solely for the purpose of advertising their book (or other commercial product.) The former is one of the things we’re all about. The latter is basically spamming. So, we’ll wait and see what happens. If **E C Coleman** is a serious poster here, we’re very happy. If there’s no further posts from him after a few days, we’ll call this spamming and move it out of sight, out of mind. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477/20 "2009-12-01T21:15:22Z")
**Irishman** , no idea why you’re persisting to nitpick a trivial, offhand comment I made. I would have expected an author promoting a new book to give the full book title, possibly examining it for for typos. That is all. However, I don’t actually give a monkey’s, and am not going to defend myself. I just wish EC Coleman would come back and say hello. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-holy-grail/519477.md?page=2)