The Popes: A History

Viscount John Julius Norwich

Mar 2011 · RH AudioGo · Narrated by Michael Jayston

About this audiobook

Brought to you by Penguin.


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

Ratings and reviews

The Popes: A History audiobook begins partway through. Chapter one begins by saying "Disc ten" then the narrator comes in mid-sentence with "...but...". Clearly not the beginning of the sentence, nor the beginning of the book. May be just my download (have deleted and downloaded several times) but needs sorting out! UPDATE: still not sorted out; book remains incomplete. Terrible customer service and a waste of money.

Both the audiobook versions from both Google play and ITunes the audio starts part way through chapter XVI

About the author

John Julius Norwich is the author of histories of Norman Sicily, the Republic of Venice, the Byzantine Empire and, most recently, The Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean. He has also written on architecture, music and the history plays of Shakespeare, and has presented some thirty historical documentaries on BBC Television.