Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes

As one who has long reveled in papal history (I have read all 40 volumes of Ludwig von Pastor's magnificent and magisterial History of the Popes and all 19 volumes of Horace K. Mann's very readable and informative work on the medieval popes)I found that this book, despite its provocative title, does a good job telling the history of the Popes in 317 pages. When I first saw the book I expected to merely browse thru it but it caught me up and I read it all. I am giving it five stars not because I agree with all the author's judgments but because it is so well-written that there is not a dull page in the book. He tilts some to the "liberal" side, but that is to be expected, and I liked the fact, e.g., that he spent more time on Nicholas V than on Alexander VI. Incidentally, I did not have any trouble knowing which Leo or Gregory was being discussed, since they are all pretty individual persons one is not likely to confuse. An attention-holding and eminently readable work.

Eamon Duffy has provided an outstanding service to any and all readers eager to learn about the fascinating history of the papacy and, indeed, of Catholicism itself. Magnificently and painstakingly researched, and chock-full of informed and intelligent opinions, "Saints & Sinners" is one of the most admirably readable books ever to grace my hands: Bravo, Mr. Duffy!Only one negative comment. This is not a coffee-table book; it's meant to be read. I would suggest, therefore, that future editions should be of a more manageable size. Don't wait, though: Buy it now.

Eamon Duffy manages somehow or other to fit two thousand years of papal history into less than 300 lavishly illustrated and very readable pages. He captures our attention with his opening description of the first century rather unpapal Roman church, and holds it as he paints with broad brush the great movements and epochs of the papacy and of western Christianity, adoring it throughout with wonderful stories illumining the all too human nature of the popes. He knows his subject, chooses well among the masses of available materials, and treats the popes - be they saint or sinner -- with fairness and understanding; he describes with even hand the enormous good and the lamentable damage this one institution has accomplished. Those who consider the papacy a monolith will be surprised by the variety of forms it has taken in the past and is capable of in years to come, by the many ways it has sought for greater power, and the many opposing forces that have held its excesses in check. It is an enjoyable, insightful and informative romp through history.

For the reader that would delve into the history of the popes and their relationship to secular authority, this book is by far the most informative and reads like a good novel.Duffy, a Roman Catholic historian, carefully depicts the strengths and weaknesses of each of the popes and their successes and failures of their pontificates. One is often left amazed how dependent the popes were on secular powers and how they strongly needed them to succeed in their objectives and to maintain their position in the papacy. Often their personal lives did not reflect the character and integrity of their office as Duffy has pointed out, most of the popes having mistresses from whom they begot illegitimate children, or having committed major crimes against their enemies. Some exploited their office for their own personal gain or that of their families. Many of the popes left the papacy in near bankruptcy with heavy debts acquired to achieve their political objectives or in their attempt to build large cathedrals to their glory. One theme constantly heard in the various reigns of the popes in the demand for continual reform with some of the popes being obvious sinners bringing the papacy into dispute. Very few of the popes were people of high moral integrity or saints, as we would conceive of them. Some, however, were outstanding and brought the papacy to great heights.Definitely a five star master production, this book is very readable and structured for most students that would do research on the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Documentation is good with references to key events. This book is clearly a good reliable reference and a must for the library of the student of church history.