Pope Joan

As a big fan of historical fiction, particularly set in the middle ages, I mostly enjoyed Pope Joan. The author, Cross, did an excellent job of recreating what it probably was like for a woman to grow up in ninth-century Europe, as well as describing the early Christian church. I also was fascinated by her description of Rome during this period, having read a lot about the late Republic and Empire.

As an agnostic, I definitely embrace Joan's notion that reason and logic are humanity's most important gifts. But I don't think that they ultimately confirm many aspects of her faith. I think the church fathers were probably right to fear reason, as it would in the end undermine their faith.

I also had problems with the ending. Clearly, the show more author felt it was important to at least hew somewhat closely to the legend of Pope Joan, and that includes how her gender was finally revealed. I think she was right to do this, but I had a lot of trouble with Joan's lingering in Rome when someone as smart as she was, with a chance at happiness with her lover, clearly knew the danger she was in. Of course, that's the trick with fictionalizing true stories or well-known legends. But, at its best, the book makes you think about why, for so long, women have been held back as less-than-equal partners. As patriarchal a society as ancient Rome was, Europe in the dark ages was a definite step backward. It's taken a long time to get to the point we're at, and still there are millions who would again plunge us backward. There's clearly something deeply frightening about women to some (most?) men. This novel doesn't answer what it is, but it certainly presents some clues and raises other pertinent questions. show less

This book actually spurred me on to do some research into history. The status and reality of Pope Joan is disputed, but regardless of whether Pope Joan ever existed, this was a very enjoyable read.

I found it to be overall well-researched, and like with some other historical fiction, counted myself glad to not be living in this time period. It really was the Dark Ages if it wad considered unnatural for a woman to read and that her brain was smaller, that her thought was centered in her womb, and other ridiculous nonsense.

This book also helps to illustrate how much power the Church had in these times, and also how precarious life could be. No police officers to defend the local peace against marauding Norsemen or rogue armies. Where a show more husband could beat his wife and children almost as much as he saw fit. Where one innocent act or simple petty jealousy could mean your death through an accusation of witchcraft. Jeez, we're descended from these people?

It's almost a wonder Joan became Pope at all. Heck, it IS a wonder. If she hadn't met a teacher with a open mind when she was little, who knows what would have become of her? Or if her older brother had been disdainful of her and refused to teach her to read and write? This book was good, but dang, history can be so sobering sometimes.

M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews show less

When this novel was released, there was some minor brouhaha about how it’s untrue, there was never a female pope, the author is taking liberties, etc. The kind of controversy that sprang up when “The Da Vinci Code” was released, though nowhere near that level. All of which drew me to the book like a moth to flame. The novel tells the tale of a young woman eager for knowledge who takes on the identity of her brother in order to get an education (as only clergy were eligible to be educated in that time) and ends up being elected Pope. I happen to be Roman catholic, and I wasn’t offended by what the author proposes. I love historical fiction, so I didn’t really care if it was true or not. What mattered was: did the author do show more adequate research on the time, customs, people and other details to make the story seem real, come alive and keep me turning the pages? Thankfully, the answer was a resounding yes.

Cross focuses on Joan, and the story is told from her point of view. She is an engaging heroine, and I immediately felt immersed in her tale. The writing is fluid, with good background description to put the reader in the right time frame. Yet, the author doesn’t become bogged down with details. This truly was a page-turner. Joan slowly rises to prominence in the church, so I had no problem when she was elected Pope. One gripe I did have was the pregnancy fiasco – the ending became more of a circus attraction that didn’t fit as well with the rest of the novel. However, it didn’t ruin the novel, just tarnished it a bit. Overall, Cross manages to convince us that the unbelievable did happen.

Though this is a work of fiction, the author cleverly includes some factual evidence (circumstantial, certainly) to pique a reader’s curiosity about the real possibility that a woman did indeed get elected pope disguised as a man. Church historians and leaders have quick, and likely valid, counters to this evidence, but its existence is tantalizing. This small section made the book that much better because it kept me thinking long past the final page. Overall, a thought-provoking tale with a smart, likeable heroine and excellent writing. Highly recommended. show less

I really did want to like this book. The author is a good storyteller, does a wonderful job of evoking a real sense of the period (no shirking of historical research here), and the idea of a female pope is a fascinating one. One can imagine that spiritual women denied access to the church, or clever women denied access to learning, might indeed have sought to escape the confines of their gender.

But somewhere between Joan/John outarguing Greek philosophers, becoming a famous healer, inventing intinction, miraculously surviving beatings/viking raids/plague, inventing modern courtroom procedure (witnesses, questioning), establishing orphanages, saving peasants from floods, cleverly applying her knowledge of hydraulic engineering to save show more the Vatican from an invading Frankish army, saving the pope from assassination, exposing ecclesiastical corruption, and thwarting a raging city fire, I found it harder and harder to keep suspending disbelief. This Pope Joan is a liberal, feminist, secular humanist, Dark Ages superhero rather than a living, breathing, believable woman of her time. The author takes such pains to eliminate anachronism in all other aspects of the novel: perhaps that is why John/Joan's highly anachronistic behavior & beliefs seem so grating in contrast.

John/Joan's enamorata Gerold is also a disappointment. There is no attempt at character development here. Think Ken to Joan's Barbie, Ned to Joan's Nancy Drew ... the tall, lusty, handsome, resourceful hero of any one of a thousand cheesy romance novels.

Finally, I was disappointed by the author's overreliance on deus ex machina. Far too often she relies on improbable plot twists, timely intercessions and amazing coincidences to move her plot forward. I don't want to spoil the plot for potential readers - but I will say that Joan always seems to be behind the right wall when there is a useful conversation to be overheard, Viking raids have never been more conveniently timed, and old friends/allies have a way of miraculously appearing just when they are most needed.

I guess I'm saying that while this is an entertaining book, it is certainly not a great book. Be prepared to enjoy it for the story & the history, but not necessarily for the literary merit. show less

Having grown up in a society in which women were (and sometimes still are) very coherced by their sex, I found Joan to be a very believable character.
Sometimes the plotline seems to be a little too thin, with a very real character being led by luck toward a destiny in too many instances. Even so, one can see Joan taking those decisions.
The Dark Ages setting is also a very difficult one to pull off, from a writers point of view. There are so many details of day to day life that are unknown to us, that it seems to be an impossible task to create a vibrant setting for the main story. In this case the attempt is successful, and one feels to be then and there while following Joan's life and tribulations.

"Pope Joan???" That was my reaction, too! And I was an altarboy...once upon the 1950s... one of a coterie of cherubic scalawags. We sussed out the hiding place of the sacramental wine. We surreptitiously sampled those bland pale body-o-Christ wafers (not as good as Necca's). Surely one of us would have heard of the scandal of Her Eminence?

The Holy Roman Catholic Church's official position on Pope Joan, aka Pope John Angelicus, is that "she" is a legend (and they should know, they've deleted the manuscripts to prove it.) Of course, the HRCC's spin on any given "embarrassment " is a bit tenuous, i.e, "Ummm, Father "wicked-uncle" Ernie was transfered to southern Chile for his health."

How, though, to explain "the dung seat"? This curious show more artifact remains from a ceremony, for centuries part of the installation of a new Pope. The procedure required the Pope-elect to sit on a wooden Port O Potty. Then the Holy Father-to-be, discretely covered by his robe, dropped his tighty whities, while at Vatican official - a Mr. Whipple of sorts - checked beneath the throne to see if the Charmins were there to be squeezed.

Pope Joan is presented as a novel, in part because the alleged term of office of John Angelicus fell in the midst of the Dark Ages, the years 853-855, and the historical record is scant (just try getting a passport if you were born in 813). Nonetheless, the author, Donna Woolfolk Cross, brings the era is to life quite vividly, using what little data has survived about the persons and events of the mid-ninth century. You can smell the vellum, and hear the crackle of old pages turning as Joan learns to read. You can almost taste the coppery blood spattered during a Viking raid on Joan's village.

John Angelicus is portrayed from three perspectives: her own, a knight who loves and impregnates her, and a Vatican rival who detests her. The story is essentially that of a female Horatio Alger, a woman who loves knowledge, healing, and logic, and whose passion for advancement requires that she hide her gender and pass for male. And deftly dance to a Machievellian beat. The combined effect is part Strachey biography, part romance novel, and part inspirational self help book.

I was charmed by the book, and would give it to my granddaughter to read, for its feminist values and historic cachet. However, my granddaughter's been there and done that, and ran off with a heavy metal guitarist months ago. show less

Where do I begin? Besides the fact that I loved this book, I can also say in all honesty that I cannot compare it to anything I’ve ever read before. Pope Joan, by Donna Woolfolk Cross, is a story of great magnitude- in a class of its own.

First of all, imagine yourself sitting back- not reading- but watching as vivid moments of a tale come forth, rolling like a movie engulfing you into the actual moment. This book is loaded with historical rawness of the times-the 9th century. You’d think you’re living through an epic; one that’s filled with battles, ascensions, spirituality, supreme clerics, warriors, leaders, heroes- men of grandeur, worth, knowledge and power…

So, if you’re already picturing yourself glued to your favourite show more all time panoramic historical motion picture, where the center of the story evolves through the eyes of the hero and think you’ve been here before…Think again. This is different. In this enormous production, the hero this time is a woman…a pope…in a world where women meant nothing…

Joan, at a very young age, was a bright and curious young child with the thirst for knowledge and the ability to absorb it all naturally, and with incredible ease. Alas, her major downfall was having been born a girl in a time when it was dreadfully sinful for her to indulge in what was the sole privelege and realm of men. Being born in the wrong time and of the wrong gender would be Joan’s initiation to her destiny.

Forced to adapt to a man’s world, Joan dressed as one and became known as John in order to survive and excel at her extraordinary competencies as student, intellectual,monk, healer, spiritual advisor, and eventually- pope. Joan sacrificed everything. If her true identity were ever discovered, it would mean automatic death for her…She was ready to face this challenge, having understood with certainty that the perils of living as a woman were far more dangerous in every aspect. Torn between her quest for knowledge and her denial of self, she opted for the first.

The book takes you through the life of this courageous woman who struggled relentlessly to reach her greatest potential. But don’t think that because Joan elevated herself to equal, or superior status, that she ever forgot that she was a woman…aware of all her senses…

The book presents facets of Joan’s life that depict extreme scenes involving her father and even deeper issues concerning her mother. Her parents, her brothers, cardinals, popes, learned men, scornful teachers, caring monks…and a great forbidden love- each playing an important role causal to the creation of Joan’s fate.

Pope Joan is a novel that captivates to the core by immersing you into Joan’s brilliant thoughts, vivid senses, reaching her inner voice that demanded to be heard. I felt myself cheering and caring deeply for this woman whose mind, body, heart and soul never rested. I wanted her to fulfill all her dreams, which she almost did- but not without devastating consequences.

Although this is a heavy book, it surprisingly moves at a relatively quick pace. The scenes are brilliantly spaced and the evolvements of events naturally flow onto the next. Not only is Pope Joan filled with suspense, in-depth characters, struggles and elations, passion and sorrow; it is an incredibly moving read. Truly sensational!

And...If you're wondering, 'Was There A Pope Joan?'...An interesting Author's Note at the end of the book will help you reach your own conclusion...

For book club interest, there's a great Reading Guide too. show less