Directed by sonke wortmann, it stars johanna wokalek as joan, david wenham as gerold, her lover, and john goodman as pope sergius ii. Pope francis thinks bensons novel lord of the world. Meanwhile in france, charles forces are under attack by the united front of somerset and york. The story of pope joan has all the elements of a ripping good scandal sex, lies, and the holy roman catholic church. Pope joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the ninth century the saracen sacking of st. It is written in such a way that the narrator acts almost as a sociologist. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Jun 22, 2010 pope joan, based on american novelist donna woolfolk crosss book of the same name, stars german actor johanna wokalek as the titular character, with lord of the rings david wenham as the lover. The afterlife of pope joan university of michigan press. It is a fascinating look at the life of a girl named johanna joan who lived during the 6th century. The idea of a female pope, or really any woman disguising herself as a man, makes for a very interesting book you have to admit that you are curious about how she pulled it off.
Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. The greek scholar arranges for the continuation of her education at the palace school of the lord bishop of dorstadt, where she meets the redhaired knight. Sep 30, 2010 pope joan really does have something for everyone. Just as pope joans legend made people doubt the power and religious authority of the catholic church, so raemond thought that queen elizabeth had stolen the true authority of the catholic church in acting as the head. The paperback of the pope joan by donna woolfolk cross at barnes. The current pope, francis i, is the 265 th successor of st. The story was widely believed for centuries, but most modern scholars regard it as fictional. Her story first appeared in chronicles in the th century and subsequently spread throughout europe. Why are 2 different popes telling us to read lord of the world. Pope francislord of the worldsurprising revelations that. Pope joan introduction since 1970 the british public has been treated to several books, a radio drama and a london stage play, asserting that at one time a woman reigned as pope.
Pope joan summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. For a thousand years her existence has been denied. Benson, an anglican priest, son of an archbishop of canterbury, who converted to catholicism a century ago. She is the legend that will not diepope joan, the ninthcentury woman who disguised herself as a man and rose to become the only female ever to sit on the throne of st. Another favorite author is spaniard dolores aleixandre. Born of a dourly pious english priest and his beautiful saxon wife, joan of ingelheim shows an early curiosity and spirit considered unseemly and unnatural for a female at a time when womens brains are considered too small. I myself believe the books contents to have historical accuracy. After having done some extensive research on the subject of a previous female pope, i have come to. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading pope joan.
Pope joan by donna woolfolk book club discussion questions. Pope joan, legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned for more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, under the title of john viii. Gifted with a thirst for knowledge and the ability to reason, joan soon learns these traits are of little use to a young girl of the ninth century. I did read the authors notes prior to beginning the book, and that. The afterlife of pope joan examines sixteenth and seventeenthcentury debates concerning the popesss existence, uncovering the disputants historiographic methods, rules of evidence, rhetorical devices, and assumptions concerning what is probable and possible for women and transvestites.
Pope joan has recently become one of my most favorite books. Pope joan pope joan audiobook, by donna woolfolk cross. May 16, 2016 why is the pope recommending that we read the book lord of the world and what is this book all about. Pope francis raised eyebrows in 20 and again in 2015 when he recommended robert hugh bensons lord of the world to the faithful as a book that depicts a globalization of hegemonic. When i think of the book pope joan, written by the amazing writer donna cross, i am filled with awe and pride. Pope joan quotes goodreads meet your next favorite book. Pope joan by donna woolfolk cross book club discussion. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. For instance, his book contains two chapters in which he links the legend of pope joan to englands then queen, elizabeth i. This film when shown in america was called the devils imposture.
Over time joan, disguised as john anglicus, is eventually afforded opportunities at levels of power that most men never reach. In medieval europe, a pious young woman becomes a scholar of theology, disguises herself as a man, rises through the catholic church hierarchy and is elected pope. Pope joan quotes showing 125 of 25 as for will, woman should be considered superior to man for eve ate of the apple for love of knowledge and learning, but adam ate of it merely because she asked him. Female pope film sparks vatican row film the guardian. Engage your students during remote learning with video readalouds. Pope joan is the story of a medievalera young woman who is intellectually brilliant and motivated in her desire to learn all she can about religion and medicine.
Peters, the famous fire in the borgo that destroyed over threequarters of the vatican, the battle of fontenoy, arguably the bloodiest and most terrible of medieval conflicts. This study guide consists of approximately 37 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of pope joan. Denied the priesthood by societys rules, young joan seizes her. Now in this riveting novel, cross paints a sweeping portrait of an unforgettable heroine who struggles against restrictions her soul cannot accept. The 1977 novel a book of common prayer by joan didion mainly focuses on analyzing the lives of its central characters. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Its definitely your brain dealing with the lack of feel good juice. Now in this riveting novel, donna woolfolk cross paints a sweeping portrait of an unforgettable heroine who struggles against restrictions her soul cannot accept. To think, i bought it months ago, and its sat on my shelf all that time. I myself believe the book s contents to have historical accuracy.
For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more knowledge compels her to dress up as a man, who due to events beyond her control eventually rises to become the pope. Author craig rustici then investigates the cultural. Back in london, gloucester reads letters from the pope urging the english to make peace with the french. As a protegee of rivals in the viper nestlike papal court, she ends up elected as pope, but carries count. The authors notes document the possibility that there was one for a brief time in the. Joans father was a member of the clergy during the period in time when it was common for them to be married and have children. Pope joan is a 1996 novel by american writer donna woolfolk cross. She is a sister of the sacred heart of jesus and a theologian at the university of comillas. It is an offensive that, for bergoglio, bears the mark of the antichrist, as in a novel that he loves to cite. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. After having done some extensive research on the subject of a previous female pope, i have come to the conclusion that the character pope joan did exist.
Why is the pope recommending that we read the book lord of the world and what is this book all about. If we go to the site and look up the book, the very first words on the. Todays book is the historical fiction novel pope joan by donna woolfolk cross. In his homilies as pope, the very frequent references to the devil are not a rhetorical. Pope francis celebrates women in the church and the world, seen through the lens of mary, the mother of jesus, in this enlightening new work. Rare book dealers in rome pull ancient tarot cards from their shelves. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. I guess now is the time when i needed to read the book. Pope joan is a best book club book for discussion about the woman who, disguised as a man, rose to rule christianity as the only woman to sit on the throne of st. Pope joan, based on american novelist donna woolfolk crosss book of the same name, stars german actor johanna wokalek as the titular character. Cross has done a superb job bringing the tale of pope joan to life in this riveting, epic pageturner. Even so, her father begrudgingly allows a visiting religious scholar to tutor joan with her brother.
A worldwide bestseller, major motion picture and upcoming directors. Joan calls to her patrondemons to advise her about the future, but they refuse to speak to her. Pope joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9th century the saracen sack of st. For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more. The infant joan of ingleheim is born in the year 814 to a saxon woman named gudrun and her english husband, the canon. The female pope whose real gender was revealed after she gave birth in a procession. A captivating historical novel, pope joan is an international bestseller.
Set in the brutal dark ages, a time when women were viewed as the root of sin, this novel tells the remarkable tale of one of historys greatest controversies. Jun 01, 2009 pope joan has all the elements one wants. It has subsequently been proved that a gap of only a few weeks fell between pope leo iv and pope benedict iii and that the story is entirely apocryphal. Buy this book cross makes an excellent, entertaining case in her work of historical fiction that, in the dark ages, a woman sat. The book that perhaps excites the new pontiff the most is the lord, by the famous theologian and historian romano guardini. The favorite books and spiritual readings of the pope. Pope joan supposedly reigned, under the title of john viii, for slightly more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, between the pontificates of leo iv 847855 and benedict iii 855858. I could go on and on about the storyline and the characters, but suffice it to say that i thought they were terrific. A full length film in 1972, entitled pope joan, also presented her as its central character.
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