Pope joan film sparks roman catholic church row telegraph. Jun 09, 2009 pope joan has all the elements one wants. The indestructible legend of the catholic churchs first and only. By student elissa meyers she appeared like a specter on the margins of medieval thoughta rumor of a woman dressed as a man, traveling through the countryside gaining love, knowledge, and the ultimate powerthe papacy. It is so gratifying to read about those rare heroes whose strength of vision. What should have been an intriguing look at interesting characters in a. Marlene speaker, isabella bird speaker, lady nijo speaker, dull gret speaker, pope joan speaker, patient griselda related symbols.
Jun 20, 2010 pope joan film sparks roman catholic church row a new film based on the legend of pope joan an englishwoman who purportedly disguised herself as a man and rose to become the only female. Nevertheless, this book belongs in every shelf of a women who has a little self. The novel pope joan by donna cross is a major best seller in germany and is selling well here too. Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their twitter handles. Pope joan book by donna woolfolk cross thriftbooks. Pope joan introduction since 1970 the british public has been treated to several books, a radio drama and a london stage play, asserting that at one time a woman reigned as pope. For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more knowledge compels her to dress up as a man, who due to events beyond her control eventually rises to become the pope. There are no reliable references to her during her lifetime, and. Donna woolfolk cross says that in the early middle ages, the legend of pope joan john viii was more popular and widespread than the story of king arthur. Joan is their youngest child, and outlives her two older brothers, as well as her parents. There are no reliable references to her during her lifetime, and her supposed reign overlaps with those of two well. Pope joan is the story of a medievalera young woman who is intellectually brilliant and motivated in her desire to learn all she can about religion and medicine. With johanna wokalek, david wenham, john goodman, iain glen. Instead this book is actually more about the journalists, the author, own personal search for the truth behind the stories of pope joan, rather than pope joan herself, although she is.
Even so, her father begrudgingly allows a visiting religious scholar to tutor joan with her brother. The legend of pope joanan englishwoman who disguised herself as a man and became pope in the ninth centuryhas been a source of controversy for a thousand years. About pope joan pope joan is a medieval religious leader believed by some to have been a female pontiff who reigned over the roman catholic church, who dismisses her as a myth. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. I have recommended this book to countless of other friends. Men and women readers will appreciate the historic setting and the stormy early church history, viking and saracen raids, the collapse of the carolingian empire.
Why was one joan expunged from history books and the other made a saint. Joan of ingleheim is daughter of the canon of ingleheim and his wife, gudrun, a saxon heathen he rescues when he is a. For many centuries it was accepted almost without discussion that. Pope joan is a fictional account based on the legend of a woman who served as pope under the guise of a man in the midninth century. Joan s father was a member of the clergy during the period in time when it was common for them to be married and have children. The true story of pope joan by oliver hayes available from rakuten kobo. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Pope joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9th century the saracen sack of st.
She is the legend that will not diepope joan, the ninthcentury woman who disguised. She vividly portrays the places and times, and her characters come alive to communicate the story of the worlds first and only woman pope, a person the. It is a fascinating look at the life of a girl named johanna joan who lived during the 6th century. Pope joan tells the story of the brilliant and talented joan who, in a medieval society that forbade women from learning to read or write, took her dead brothers place as an initiate at the monastery and rose to become. No one knows for sure if pope joan, or pope john anglicus as she called herself, really existed. Known for breakfast and sandwich art taken to the next level in a bright airy space. Despite much evidence to the contrary, the author believes that she truly did exist and was perhaps pope for a period of time in the middle of the 9th century. Joans father was a member of the clergy during the period in time when it was common for them to be married and have children. Pope joan by donna woolfolk cross 1996 by far the most recommended pope related book was this perennial book club favorite.
Before i started reading this book i gave a brief summary to some of my. Being an extremely bright and resourceful person, joan manages to save herself from a viking attack by disguising herself as a man. The young pope major characters, ranked worst to best. Pope joan is a best book club book for discussion about the woman who, disguised as a man, rose to rule christianity as the only woman to sit on the throne of st. Jun 01, 2009 pope joan has all the elements one wants. Pope joan, legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned, under the title of john viii, for slightly more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, between the pontificates of st. After finishing donna cross novelization of joans life, one may want her to be a real person, only because it is so gratifying to read about those rare heroes whose strength of vision enables them to ignore the almost overpowering messages of their own historical periods. Pope joan, brunswick east, melbourne urbanspoonzomato. Pope joan home melbourne, victoria, australia menu.
A woman of english extraction born in the german city of ingelheim in the ninth century disguises herself as a man and rises through the vatican ranks. This is an interesting complement to the novel, pope joan. For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more knowledge compels her to dress up as a man, who due to events beyond her control eventually rises to bec ome th e pope. The characters who make up hbos new comedy series deserve a very serious ranked list.
This film when shown in america was called the devils imposture. Book leaves you with many questions and great discussion. Aug 31, 2018 despite her medieval celebrity, most historians now dismiss pope joan as a myth. Directed by sonke wortmann, it stars johanna wokalek as joan, david wenham as gerold, her lover, and john goodman as pope sergius ii. 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.
Which characters and events in the novel are real, and which are fictional. The legend of pope joan in search of the truth by peter stanford was a little difficult to enjoy at first as i was expecting more of a standard history book. What similarities or differences do you see between pope joan and saint joan of arc. Pope joan quotes by donna woolfolk cross goodreads. The young pope major characters, ranked worst to best photos.
After finishing donna cross novelization of joan s life, one may want her to be a real person, only because it is so gratifying to read about those rare heroes whose strength of vision enables them to ignore the almost overpowering messages of their own historical periods. I found the film version of the pope joan story compelling viewing because it conveyed the force and importance of joan s spiritual calling yet portrayed her as an breathing human being this may be somewhat ironic since it is possible she is only a legend. Hardly a surprise, given the undeniable morbid curiosity that scandal in high places excites in the masses. The book follows joans entire life, from birth until death, and in a way serves as a tour of the early middle ages from a distinctly feminist point of view.
Pope joan ii by pat montley synopsis urged by apparitions of her namesakes saint joan and the apocryphal 9thcentury pope joan i, and armed with an infusion of the life force, sister joanfaster than a speeding angel, more powerful than a prayer, able to leap clerical hierarchies in a single bound. Donna will chat by speakerphone with any book reading or school group that chooses pope joan. The infant joan of ingleheim is born in the year 814 to a saxon woman named gudrun and her english husband, the canon. Publicity compares it to the davinci code, which is true in that each one is a load of dingoess kidneys. The fable about a female pope, who afterwards bore the name of johanna joan, is first noticed in the middle of the thirteenth century. Brilliant and talented, young joan rebels against the medieval social strictures forbidding women to learn to read and. Gifted with a thirst for knowledge and the ability to reason, joan soon learns these traits are of little use to a young girl of the ninth century. Our reading group recently read and discussed pope joan. This study guide consists of approximately 37 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of pope joan. Cross has done a superb job bringing the tale of pope joan to life in this riveting, epic pageturner. Pope joan named best feature film at ojai and moondance film festivals. Pope joan 45 collins street, melbourne victoria, melbourne, victoria, australia 3000 rated 4. Italians love them a good historical church scandal.
Donna cross, a novelist who spent seven years researching the. For a thousand years, her existence has been denied. Men and women readers will appreciate the historic setting and the stormy early church history, viking and saracen raids, the collapse of the carolingian empire, and a heroine who would rather give up everything than live without learningthis is the stuff of grand entertainment. Joan of ingleheim is daughter of the canon of ingleheim and his wife, gudrun, a saxon heathen he rescues when he is a missionary. Pope joan has all the elements one wants in a historical dramalove. The author, donna woolfolk cross joined us via telephone for our discussion everyone agreed that it was our best ever and pope joan our favorite book so far weve been meeting monthly for over three years and this is the first book that everyone liked. Nov 03, 2009 pope joan movie trailer 2009 thenewestmovies. Pope joan top girls pupil presentation on the character and links with much ado about nothing 1. Pope joan is played by johanna wokalek, a german actress im not familiar with, but john goodman plays pope sergius and that just rules. Pope joan has recently become one of my most favorite books. I could go on and on about the storyline and the characters, but suffice it to say that i thought they were terrific. Heres your opportunity to ask questions of the horses mouth.
Pope jo an is a 1996 novel by american writer donna woolfolk cross. If joan had agreed to leave with gerold when he first came to rome, what would her life have been like. Exhibit a is joan of arc, simultaneously canonized by pope benedict xv and the womens suffrage. 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. Pope joan by donna woolfolk cross book club discussion.
It has subsequently been proved that a gap of only a few weeks fell between pope leo iv and pope benedict iii and that the story is entirely apocryphal. Aug 19, 2015 ninety percent of me thinks there was a pope joan, says mary malone, a former nun who wrote a history of women and christianity. The young pope major characters ranked from worst to best photos spoiler warning. The story of pope joan has all the elements of a ripping good scandal sex. Despite her medieval celebrity, most historians now dismiss pope joan as a myth. Pope joan is a 1996 novel by american writer donna woolfolk cross. Pope joan top girls pupil presentation on the character. Pope joan by donna woolfolk book club discussion questions. She is the legend that will not diepope joan, a controversial figure of historical record who, disguised as a man, rose to rule christianity in the 9th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of st.
The legend of pope joan an englishwoman who disguised herself as a man and became pope in the ninth centuryhas been a source of controversy for a thousand years. For the most part this novel is the story of a young woman, whose desire to gain more knowledge compels her to dress up as a man, who eventually rises to become the pope. This book takes the legend of pope joan and investigates the truth or fiction of her existence. A full length film in 1972, entitled pope joan, also presented her as its central character.
Pope joan, legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned for more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, under the title of john viii. Pope joan character analysis in top girls litcharts. To think, i bought it months ago, and its sat on my shelf all that time. Pope joan has all the elements one wants in a historical drama love, sex, violence, duplicity. Over time joan, disguised as john anglicus, is eventually afforded opportunities at levels of power that most men never reach. The church is less than enthused about it, surprise, surprise, but its in the top 10 box office hits in italy. Donna woolfolk cross featured in new york times article. Fascinated by her story, but skeptical of its authenticity, british journalist peter stanford decided to investigate the facts. The idea of a female pope, or really any woman disguising herself as a man, makes for a very interesting book you have to admit that you are curious about how she pulled it off.
The story was widely believed for centuries, but most modern scholars regard it as fictional. As the future over women in the catholic priesthood continues, and the church, which once took her. Here is a woman who hears gods voice and the voice of carnal longing. For the opposite sex, however, they seem to find the book to dull or fictitious. As is to be expected, every female reader that i have come across with has been absolutely fascinated with pope joan.