THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE ENGLISH WOMAN WHO FOOLED THE VATICAN. The legend of Pope Joan - the woman who, dressed as a man, headed the Catholic church in the early ninth century - has always been a subject of fascinated speculation but rarely, until now, the subject of serious research. As the future over women in the catholic priesthood continues, and the Church, which once took her story as gospel, now tries to play down the rumours, it is time for a reappraisal. Here Peter Stanford, author of The Devil: A Biography, reveals what can, and cannot, be known of this incredible story, and of the extraordinary woman behind it. In this fascinating account, ranging from secret histories to conspiracy theories, medieval carvings to tarot cards, women priests to cross-dressing clerics, and from romantic fiction to hard facts, he delivers a major study of historical detective work.

upload/alexandrina/3. Middle Ages/Church and Theology in Middle Ages/Peter Stanford - The Legend of Pope Joan. In Search of the Truth.mobi

upload/motw_shc_2025_10/shc/The Legend of Pope Joan_ In Search of the - Peter Stanford.mobi

motw/The Legend of Pope Joan_ In Search of the - Peter Stanford.epub

motw/The Legend of Pope Joan_ In Search of the - Peter Stanford.mobi

lgli/P:\Bibliotheca Alexandrina\3. Middle Ages\Church and Theology in Middle Ages\Peter Stanford - The Legend of Pope Joan In Search of the Truth.mobi

lgli/3. Middle Ages\Church and Theology in Middle Ages\Peter Stanford - The Legend of Pope Joan In Search of the Truth.mobi

zlib/no-category/Peter Stanford/The She-Pope_25738912.mobi

Penguin Publishing Group

Berkley Publishing Group

Boulevard Books

Berkley Trade

Berkley Books

United States, United States of America

Berkley trade pbk. ed, New York, 2000

April 10, 2000

sources:
calibre:ef72ae0e-3de9-4195-b119-fd6675a12500

Memory of the World Librarian: Quintus

The legend of Pope Joan--an Englishwoman who disguised herself as a man and became pope in the ninth century--has been a source of controversy for a thousand years. Fascinated by her story, but skeptical of its authenticity, British journalist Peter Stanford decided to investigate the facts. His search for the truth has produced the definitive account of one of the most intriguing mysteries of the Catholic Church. With all the riveting drama of an historical detective novel, this exciting study utilizes a variety of sources and methods, from ancient papal tomes to present-day psychological profiling. And in an age when many women identify with Joan's struggle for recognition in a male-dominated institution, Stanford speculates on what her legend's longevity means for the church--and asks why she still has such a powerful grip on our imaginations.
"A compelling account of one of the least-known stories in church history."-- The Boston Globe
"The definitive study of an amazing legend."-- Publishers Weekly
"Unfolds like a good mystery yarn...thorough, intelligent, and absorbing."-- The Boston Globe
"Stanford renders the myth itself--how this woman who penetrated the ultimate men's club has been represented, reviled, and revered for more than a millennium--in fascinating detail."-- Entertainment Weekly
"Carefully researched and of broad interest."-- Library Journal
"A valuable tool for understanding the sexual politics of the Catholic Church--as contentious an issue now as it ever has been--and an extremely engaging read as well."-- Willamette Week (Portland, OR)
**

"The story of Pope Joan, an Englishwoman who disguised herself as a man and became pope in the middle of the ninth century."

2022-03-08