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caitlinmchugh24's review against another edition
2.0
2. 5 stars. The history of the papacy is an ambitious goal for one historian and to be contained in one book. However, the author's biases and opinions came through frequently and although it gets to Pope Benedict, the book is already seems dated with its history and sources. The book itself was interesting and engaging with a good pace, but I would not recommend. Will look for other historical books about the papacy that are more fact-based and balanced.
wescovington's review against another edition
3.0
Norwich tries to take an exhaustive look at the political power of the Papacy, but the work is somewhat exhausting. As he tries to cover something about EVERY pope, you get bogged down in the weeds of medieval history, which even someone who likes that era, had a hard time following.
The book ends with Pope Benedict still in charge. In the final chapters, Norwich takes a much more confrontational stance against Popes he felt were not (and they weren't very good) with Pius XII given even harsher treatment than the Borgia and Medici popes of the Renaissance. John XXIII gets a surprisingly short treatment despite his rather large impact on the Catholic Church today.
The book ends with Pope Benedict still in charge. In the final chapters, Norwich takes a much more confrontational stance against Popes he felt were not (and they weren't very good) with Pius XII given even harsher treatment than the Borgia and Medici popes of the Renaissance. John XXIII gets a surprisingly short treatment despite his rather large impact on the Catholic Church today.
liliya_klein's review against another edition
2.0
Rushed through the book - the historical stories were fast and hard to keep track of. But that's understandable since it covers 2000 years of the papacy.
lexihan's review against another edition
3.0
A fairly good overview of the history, however does not go in depth.
brnycx's review against another edition
3.0
An expansive history of a hugely influential institution which has lasted for eons, going up to the 2000s. Reading it is like watching history on fast-forward - imagine Popes getting elected and dying on a single page, Emperors and Kings flitting in and out (and dying off screen), territories passing from one power to another to another in a single chapter. Occasionally it slows down and focuses on specific time periods, and there's even a whole chapter devoted to the legend of Pope Jean, a female Pope (who almost definitely didn't exist) and, as the story goes, gave birth during a ceremonial procession. But this pace can be a little exhausting, and I'd rather the book had concentrated on a handful of Popes across history and examined them in a little more detail. It could also have been a little more critical (the whole endemic child abuse scandal is only mentioned in a single sentence, for example).
vivamonty's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
A pop history of the papacy, viewed mostly through a political lens. The subject could’ve lent itself to a tedious slog but Norwich’s prose and humor keeps the narrative humming along and makes the experience quite enjoyable. I learned a lot!