Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich (English) Pape

Description: Absolute Monarchs by John Julius Norwich In a chronicle that captures nearly 2,000 years of inspiration and intrigue, Norwich recounts in riveting detail the histories of the most significant popes and what they meant politically, culturally, and socially to Rome and to the world. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In a chronicle that captures nearly two thousand years of inspiration and intrigue, John Julius Norwich recounts in riveting detail the histories of the most significant popes and what they meant politically, culturally, and socially to Rome and to the world. Norwich presents such popes as Innocent I, who in the fifth century successfully negotiated with Alaric the Goth, an invader civil authorities could not defeat; Leo I, who two decades later tamed (and perhaps paid off) Attila the Hun; the infamous "pornocracy"—the five libertines who were descendants or lovers of Marozia, debauched daughter of one of Romes most powerful families; Pope Paul III, "the greatest pontiff of the sixteenth century," who reinterpreted the Churchs teaching and discipline; John XXIII, who in five short years starting in 1958 instituted reforms that led to Vatican II; and Benedict XVI, who is coping with todays global priest sex scandal. Epic and compelling, Absolute Monarchs is an enthralling history from "an enchanting and satisfying raconteur" (The Washington Post). Author Biography John Julius Norwich was the author of more than twenty books, including the New York Times bestseller Absolute Monarchs. He began his career in the British foreign service, but resigned his diplomatic post to become a writer. He was a chairman of the Venice in Peril Fund and the honorary chairman of the World Monuments Fund. John Julius Norwich died in 2018. Review "A rollicking narrative . . . [Norwich] keeps things moving at nearly beach-read pace."—The New York Times Book Review "A highly entertaining read . . . [John Julius] Norwich has a lightness of touch and caustic sense of humour. . . . As a lively romp through two millenniums of ecclesiastical history, [Absolute Monarchs is] well-nigh infallible."—The Sunday Business Post "Very readable and rewarding . . . Norwich possesses an easy grace with words, a gift for condensation and a wonderful instinct for the memorable and defining detail."—The Plain Dealer "Deeply researched, Norwichs history offers a wonderful introduction to papal lives."—Publishers Weekly "Excellent, often surprising . . . An outstanding historical survey."—Booklist "[A] sweeping history . . . [a] cacophony of temporal sin."—Los Angeles Times Review Quote Praise for John Julius Norwich Excerpt from Book CHAPTER I Saint Peter After nearly two thousand years of existence, the Papacy is the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world. To countless millions, the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth, the infallible interpreter of divine revelation. To millions more, he is the fulfilment of the Biblical prophecies of Antichrist. What cannot be denied is that the Roman Catholic Church, of which he is the head, is as old as Christianity itself; all other Christian religions - and there are more than 22,000 of them - are offshoots or deviants from it. It all started, according to the generally accepted view, with St Peter. To most of us he is a familiar figure. We see his portrait in a thousand churches - painted, frescoed or chiselled in stone: curly grey hair, close-cropped beard, his keys dangling from the waist. Sometimes he stands beside, sometimes opposite, the black-bearded, balding St Paul, armed with book and sword. Together they represent the Churchs joint mission - Peter to the Jews of the diaspora, Paul to the Gentiles. Peters original name was Simon, or perhaps Symeon. (Oddly enough, the two names are unrelated: the first is Greek, the second Hebrew, but both languages were current in Bethsaida in Galilee where he was born.) Profession: fisherman, and quite a successful one. He and his brother Andrew were in partnership with James and John, the sons of Zebedee; he seems to have had his own boat, and he could certainly afford to employ a number of assistants. His brother Andrew is described by St John as having been a disciple of John the Baptist, and it may well have been through the Baptist that Simon first met Jesus. At any rate he soon became the first of the disciples, and then of the twelve Apostles whom Christ selected from them - seeing them, perhaps, as a symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel; and he had already reached this position of pre Details ISBN0812978846 Author John Julius Norwich Short Title ABSOLUTE MONARCHS Language English ISBN-10 0812978846 ISBN-13 9780812978841 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 262.13 Residence ENK Birth 1929 Year 2012 Imprint Random House Trade Paperbacks Subtitle A History of the Papacy Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2012-05-15 NZ Release Date 2012-05-15 US Release Date 2012-05-15 UK Release Date 2012-05-15 Pages 544 Publisher Random House USA Inc Publication Date 2012-05-15 Illustrations 16-PP COLOR PHOTO INSERT; 3 MAPS Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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