{"product_id":"9780099565871-popes-the","title":"The Popes","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn 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\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOf the 280-odd holders of the supreme office, some have unquestionably been saints;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn 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\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOf 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, \u003ci\u003eThe Popes\u003c\/i\u003e is superbly written, witty and revealing. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘Charming and learned.The prose is elegant, the witticisms are plentiful, and the volume's enthusiasm is addictive.’ Jonathan Wright, \u003ci\u003eBBC History Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40943050129505,"sku":"9780099565871","price":14.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_32396811.jpg?v=1737658750","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9780099565871-popes-the","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}