Holy Blood, Holy Grail

By: Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Is the traditional, accepted view of the life of Christ in some way incomplete?

Is it possible Christ did not die on the cross?

Is it possible Jesus was married, a father, and that his bloodline still exists?

Is it possible that parchments found in the South of France a century ago reveal one of the best-kept secrets of Christendom?

Is it possible that these parchments contain the very heart of the mystery of the Holy Grail?

According to the authors of this extraordinarily provocative, meticulously researched book, not only are these things possible, they are probably true! So revolutionary, so original, so convincing, that the most faithful Christians will be moved; here is the book that has sparked worldwide controversey.

©1982, 1983 Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Has all the elements of an international thriller." (Newsweek)
"Enough to seriously challenge many traditional Christian beliefs, if not alter them." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Very intresting ... but ...

Taken by itself and without the "lens" of pre-conception, this is fairly fascinating stuff. It is this work that contains the basis of much that is in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code ... but this is the real deal. It is unconventional research by people who write documentaries for British Television. The big problem is that Pierre Plantard, the source of Priory of Sion lore, has, since the publication of this book, been proven to be a hoax and a forger. That discovery almost completely takes the wind out of the sails of the hypotheses presented by these authors. It reduces this work to a curiosity rather than the "big deal" it was 25 years ago (when published).

Great Book! Great abridgment and narration.

This book is chiefly about research into documents deposited in the National Library of Paris from the 1950's-1970's detailing the existence of a Secret Society known as the Priory of Sion which has orchestrated major events in world history, preserved mystical secrets of immense power, and counted among its Grand Masters some of the most important figures in Western culture.

The research extends to the grand claim that Priory serves also as guardian over the bloodline of Jesus Christ who may not have died on the cross but rather survived to bear children with the Magdalene.

The authors piece together the information in the documents using erudite scholarship combined with brazen sprees of speculation. And the existence of Priory itself has by now been written off as an elaborately orchestrated hoax.

Yet there still exist historical mysteries that made the hoax possible in the first place. These indicate not only secret machinations behind some of the most significant events in world history, but unknown sources of immense wealth and power accessible to the story's key players that cannot be ignored regardless of the Priory's existence or non-existence.

This book also formed the historical or mythological framework behind the plot of The Da Vinci Code.

Great listen, but not "true" history.

First I want to say this book is a great read (or listen). I give it 5 stars because it REALLY is enjoyable. The thing is, a lot of the stuff in here time has shown not to be true. I think it's very important going into this book knowing that them Priory has been proven to be a hoax, and on top of the the person(s) that purported that never meant to imply that he (they) were decedents of Jesus.

There are a lot of real facts and history in this book, but it ends up incredibly mixed with personal opinion and flawed leaps of logic. Even with all of that in mind, I still can't bring myself to call this book "fiction", I believe the authors wrote in sincerely and at the time of writing believed what they wrote. I think the best way to deal with this book is read it, enjoy it, and take the points that interest you and read other books about the subjects, perhaps ones that are more historically accurate.

This is missing a lot from the book

I THINK the 2004 hardcover adds a lot of information, because there is no doubt there is a LOT missing from this audiobook that is found in that version. I don't know if it was a deliberate omission or an oversight, but considering the audiobook came out later, it should have included everything from the hardcover book in my opinion (minus the pictures, anyway). I am very disappointed.

Fantastic Read/Listen

I approached this book with an open mind as the writers did with their investigation into the book's material. I caught a documentary on Amazon about Leonardo Di Vinci and the authors of this book were in it. It peaked an interest in me I didn't know I had so I purchased the book both on Audible and a hard cover copy. I could not put the book down and/or stop listening once started. I have been raised a Christian my entire life. This book does raise some serious questions into the historical belief system we as a society have come to live in. Call it a heretical unorthodox point of view, I don't really care, but regardless of what you believe, I still believe this book doesn't diminish any of the divinity in Jesus. So what if it humanizes him. Historically, we know he was indeed a person that walked this earth. We know through historical documents and scientific research that he was indeed crucified and died. So with keeping an open mind and a scientific approach it is safe to say in my opinion, he still lived in the traditions of being a man in the time he did walk this earth. Traditions of life, love, family, marriage, and procreation. Who are we to say otherwise when no one alive today obviously wasn't alive then. The gospels are of small piece of how Jesus lived his life and are indeed a magnificent and beautiful way to live one's life yet there is still so much we don't know of him. It is true that there are known contradictions within the scriptures and gospels we hold to be true. Yet we still follow them as to be self evident. Let's not also forget the gospels we have grown to love, read, quote, and follow were debated and fought over by a group of Bishops centuries after the period Jesus was even alive. Men with their own agendas who decided and on their own accord defined the divinity of the Messiah. Men that are just as corruptable as the next. Anything "they" believed contradicted their beliefs or took away from their view of what it means to believe in the Messiah, or even who he was as a man or god, was disregarded and destroyed. That is just my opinion as misguided as most if not all devout Christians would think. That is also just one part of a long a line of questions this book raises for me. I still believe in God. I still believe in Jesus Christ. I also choose to lean more on the human side of his existence and the existence of a bloodline after his time on this earth. I also choose to believe that the Holy Grail and/or Royal Blood was indeed his heir the Magdalene carried with her and then entrusted to the Templars to protect. We may have been interpreting the second coming of Jesus Christ wrong for centuries and may just in fact be his true heir announcing his or her existence to the world. I also believe this way of thinking as I see it doesn't detract from the prophecy of Jesus's return but supports it. We will never know until it happens. Who knows, maybe with how crazy 2020 has been now is as great a time as ever to unite the world. Regardless of that, I have been raised that if you have a question about something find an answer. I have a scientific mind with a Christian heart. The message of the bible and the gospels are a beautiful thing to live by. This book indeed comes across as outlandish but doesn't take away my love for God and/or Jesus. It raises serious questions and further deepens my investigative mind. God made us in his own image. He gave us free will and the ability to seek and find the truths of the world. And with having a scientific open minded view of Christianity only self assures me in my mind that he gave me that way of thinking as well. No one has the right to say otherwise. I will continue my search for the truth, be it through my own Faith and belief system or through any and all scientific means. Final thoughts...I really loved this book.

Poorly done

Authors makes enormous leaps in his assumptions with little or no evidence to back it up.

Great exploration of alternative Christian history

Great exploration of alternative Christian history covering early Christian views on Jesus, who he was and his bloodline.

provocative spellbound

After the first few pages you are hooked. This intriguing research
keeps you riveted to the pages, chapter after chapter.

Entertaining but don't take it too seriously

Even the authors admit this is simply a story about a process of discovery. The discovery itself is still questionable but how they came to their conclusions was a interesting journey. If you care more about the destination rather than the journey to get there, this book is not for you.

Very interesting read!!!

Love listening to audible books while I train for marathons. Enjoyed this narrator and the information!