Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross – 442 pages
Book Blurb:
Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against medieval social strictures forbidding women to learn. When her brother is brutally killed during a Viking attack, Joan takes up his cloak–and his identity–and enters the monastery of Fulda. As Brother John Anglicus, Joan distinguishes herself as a great scholar and healer. Eventually, she is drawn to Rome, where she becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web of love, passion, and politics. Triumphing over appalling odds, she finally attains the highest office in Christendom–wielding a power greater than any woman before or since. But such power always comes at a price . . .
In this international bestseller, Cross brings the Dark Ages to life in all their brutal splendor and shares the dramatic story of a woman whose strength of vision led her to defy the social restrictions of her day
My Review: 4.5 stars
Click here to order on Amazon!
This story starts when Joan is young and has the burning quest to be educated. She finds someone who will teach her and of course eavesdrops on her brother’s lessons. Eventually when her brother is killed, she takes on his name and eventually rises to Pope. It’s an interesting take on history and the possibility that she did in fact exist. Additionally, this is a quick page turner which I suspected it wouldn’t be. The people, politics and religion were all written in a clear and interesting way so that any reader can enjoy this story. Reminiscent of Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman. Apparently film rights have been purchased for this book.
Quotes I liked:
As for will, woman should be considered superior to man for Eve ate of the apple for love of knowledge and learning, but Adam ate of it merely because she asked him.”