religion September 2011 John Julius Norwich New York Times bestseller AAbsolute History of the Papacy Monarchs

From author John Julius Norwich comes the astonishing story of the papacy, capturing nearly two thousand years of inspiration and devotion, intrigue and scandal. With the papacy embattled in recent years, it is essential to have the perspective of one of the world’s most accomplished historians. In , John Julius Norwich captures nearly two thousand years of inspiration and devotion, intrigue and scandal. The men (and maybe one woman) who have held this position of infallible power over millions have ranged from heroes to rogues, admirably wise to utterly decadent. Norwich, who knew two and had private audiences with two others, recounts in riveting detail the histories of the most significant popes and what they meant politically, culturally, and socially to and to the world. Norwich presents such brave popes as Innocent I, who in the fifth century successfully negotiated with Alaric the Goth, an invader civil authorities could not defeat, and Leo I, who two decades later tamed (and perhaps paid off) Atilla Read by Michael Page the Hun. Here, too, are the scandalous figures: Joan, Category: Religion the mythic woman said (without any substantiation) to have Running Time: 22 hrs 30 min - Unabridged been elected in 855, and the infamous “pornocracy,” the Hardcover: 07/12/2011 (50,000 Random House) five libertines who were descendants or lovers of , Territory: US and Canada debauched daughter of one of Rome’s most powerful On Sale Date: 09/05/2011 Trade 9781452604220 18 Audio CDs $59.99 families. Library 9781452634227 18 Audio CDs $131.99 Absolute Monarchs brilliantly portrays such reformers as Pope MP3 9781452654225 2 MP3-CDs $39.99 Paul III, “the greatest pontiff of the sixteenth century,” who reinterpreted the Church’s teaching and discipline, and John John Julius Norwich is the author of XXIII, who in five short years starting in 1958 “opened the books including The Middle Sea, The church to the the twentieth century,” instituting reforms that in Sicily, A History of Venice, led to Vatican II. Norwich brings the story to the present Paradise of Cities, and A Short History day with Benedict XVI, who is coping with a global priest of Byzantium. He has also written on sex scandal. architecture, music, and the history plays of Shakespeare, and has presented approximately thirty Epic and compelling, Absolute Monarchs is the astonishing historical documentaries on BBC television. story of some of history’s most revered and reviled figures, Michael Page has been recording audiobooks since men who still cast light and shadows on the vatican and the 1984 and has over two hundred to his credit. He world today. has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, including Marketing for The War That Killed Achilles by Caroline Alexander and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. • Author of The Middle Sea and The Normans in Sicily

Praise for ABSOLUTE MONARCHS

“Norwich doesn’t skirt controversies, ancient and present, in this broad, clear-eyed assessment.” —Kirkus “An outstanding historical survey.” —Booklist “This lively if opinionated view of the political aspects of one of the most powerful positions in world history will appeal Tantor a u d i o to history buffs.”— Library Journal Also Available from Tantor FOR MORE INFORMATION Philip Jenkins Toll Free 877.782.6867 Tantor Audio Fax 888.782.7821 2 Business Park Road The Lost History of Christianity ISBN 13: 9781400109715 www.tantor.com Old Saybrook, CT 06475