Absolute Monarchs

A History of the Papacy

De: John Julius Norwich

Narrado por: Michael Page

With the papacy embattled in recent years, it is essential to have the perspective of one of the world's most accomplished historians. In Absolute Monarchs, John Julius Norwich captures nearly 2,000 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 popes 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 Rome and to the world. He 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 the Hun.

Here, too, are the scandalous figures: Pope Joan, the mythic woman said (without any substantiation) to have been elected in 855, and the infamous "pornocracy", the five libertines who were descendants or lovers of Marozia, debauched daughter of one of Rome's most powerful families.

Absolute Monarchs brilliantly portrays such reformers as Pope Paul III, "the greatest pontiff of the sixteenth century", who reinterpreted the Church's teaching and discipline, and John XXIII, who in five short years, starting in 1958, "opened the church to the the twentieth century", instituting reforms that led to Vatican II. Norwich brings the story to the present day with Benedict XVI, who is coping with a global priest sex scandal.

Epic and compelling, Absolute Monarchs is the astonishing story of some of history's most revered and reviled figures, men who still cast light and shadows on the Vatican and the world today.

©2011 John Julius Norwich (P)2011 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Norwich doesn't skirt controversies, ancient and present, in this broad, clear-eyed assessment." ( Kirkus)

Great performance, pretty good book

This history of the papacy covers almost all of them -- right from St. Peter up to Benedict.

The excellent performance kept my interest all the way through. But I kept waiting for a bigger picture of the papacy and analysis of historical trends. It never came. The book is a series of mini-biographies with little more analysis than, "If Pope So-and-so had been a less bigoted, he might have had a great impact on XYZ."

Still, it was informative and worth listening to. If you want to learn more about the history of the papacy, this isn't a bad place to start.

A little bit of all the Popes

Where does Absolute Monarchs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I think it's pretty high up there, as it goes through a little of all the Popes, especially the early ones.

What could John Julius Norwich have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I can't think of anything.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, it's nonfiction.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Nice Overview of Papal History

What did you love best about Absolute Monarchs?

Historically accurate while providing an interesting story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the Renaissance popes the most of all the stories.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Since there are many popes being covered in the book, it is easy to listen to over several periods of time.

Any additional comments?

Very true to the author's intent from the foreward.

Little heavy

Would not listen to it again.
Glad I listened to. Learned quite a bit.

Don't be afraid of our history!

I am a practicing Catholic (and I hope to keep practicing until I get it right!) and I started this book with some trepidation, expecting an attempt to challenge or ridicule my faith. But the author, who is not religious himself, does not attempt to draw conclusions about the Faith because of misbehavior by its leaders.
It was a fascinating history of how the Church evolved during some very complex periods in European history. The history of the papacy is, at times, a Rogue's Gallery. What I heard sounded to me like wave after wave of evil flung at the Church and the Gospel - often aided by the Church's leaders. Yet the evil does not prevail. A priest once laughingly told me that among the proofs that Catholicism is the true Faith is that it has survived for 2,000 years, despite its clergy! Now I know what he meant! Some of our Popes were AWFUL. None of them was perfect. But the Gospel stands the test of time. This book may actually have strengthened my Faith!