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The Popes

A History

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The Popes

By: John Julius Norwich
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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John Julius Norwich expertly examines the history of the oldest continuing institution in the world, tracing the papal line down the centuries from St Peter to the present

Of the 280-odd holders of the supreme office, some have unquestionably been saints; others have wallowed in unspeakable immorality. One was said to have been a woman, her sex being revealed only when she improvidently gave birth to a baby during a papal procession. Almost as shocking was Formosus whose murdered corpse was exhumed, clothed in pontifical vestments, propped up on a throne and subjected to trial. From the glories of Byzantium to the decay of Rome, from the Albigensian Heresy to controversy within the Church today, The Popes is superbly written, witty and revealing.

'Charming and learned...The prose is elegant, the witticisms are plentiful, and the volume's enthusiasm is addictive.' Jonathan Wright, BBC History Magazine


© John Julius Norwich 2011 (P) Penguin Audio 2011

 Christian Living Christianity Middle Ages Italy Rome Thought-Provoking Crusade
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This is a wonderfully written and superbly performed book. John Julius Norwich sets his cloth from the start in that this will not be a dry, erudite history but one written for reasonably intelligent, interested people. Frankly it has it all; intrigue, politics, murder. It is proof that fact can be stranger - and more compelling - than fiction. It is immensely listenable and keeps the attention. Like the best of thrillers, one is left waiting to see what on earth can come next.

I found this a hugely satisfying and compelling listen and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this sort of history.

Thriller!

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Well written and well read . It was an unexpected treat to find that the book takes one through the swirling storm of the history of Europe since Roman times with the Pontifex Maximus at its vortex. This provides an different and fascinating viewpoint.

I had forgotten the scale of the power and influence the office held ,intertwined with temporal power. I also did not know quite how mad and bad so many of them were. This book does not take a antagonistic stance against the papacy but the careful setting out of the facts reveals an astonishing parade of fools,knaves,lechers,villains and incompetents. This is a rotten barrel of apples with just a few goodish ones in the lot.

The one problem is,that for a history of this type it would be useful to have the written version to thumb backwards and forwards ,to bookmark and note, because the endless succession of Clements,Alexanders , Piuses and Johns along with Kings and Emperors likewise sharing a small list of names is almost impossible to follow on audio. I had to give up the effort to rewind and recall and often lost the thread. I will probaly buy a print copy for my bookshelves because it would be a superb reference book to dip into.

Otherwise - the audio is well worth the effort.

I knew there were bad Popes,but not this many!

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Brilliant and fascinating. A sweep of history for almost 2000 years. An update would be good reason: Benedict's retirement and the election of Pope Francis.

The Popes

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I enjoyed the stories of the early popes and the way that the development of the papacy as we know it was portrayed. Against the background of various corruptions and perversions the good people in the church begin to hone their understanding of the place of the church in upholding and protecting the faith. It is necessarily brief in some cases but there is enough information to keep the listener engaged as the history unfolds. It is a book for a specialist listener rather than a casual one.

Fascinating but not enough depth

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This book goes trough the history of the papacy,l since its early origin right up until the pontificate of Ratzinger, revealing the faults, vices and virtues of some of the most influential or else controversial popes in history. It is written in a way that never bored me, and I found myself so enthralled by the characters and circumstances that I just couldn't stop listening.
To this, I must say, the narrator is perfect. Perfect pitch, tone and pace. The narration of this book is the highest standard Audible has shown me. A superb listening of a truly interesting piece of history. It made my commute an experience I looked forward to everyday.
This is what Audible is for me. If done well (and this book excels at that) it has the ability of turning otherwise dull moments into experiences of learning and excitement.
Thank you Norwich and Jayston for the incredible time you've given me.

A remarkable achievement!

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