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بیست و هفتمین روز از ماه زمهریر سال ۸۱۴ پس از میلاد مسیح، قابله‌ا� به نام «هروترود» با بورانی از برف و طوفان روبرو می‌شو�. شروع داستان شرح تندبادی است که به سردی یخ از لابلای درختان لخت و سرمازده وزیدن گرفت و در تن لرزان هروترود فرو رفت و از سوراخ‌ه� و وصله‌ها� قبای پشمی نازکش گذشت. کوره راه جنگلی پوشیده از توده‌ها� برف بود و او در هر گامی که بر می‌داش� تا زانو در برف فرو می‌رف�. قشری از یخ روی ابروان و پلک‌های� نشسته بود. هروترود هر چند لحظه یک‌با� دستی به صورتش می‌کشی� و برف‌ه� را پاک می‌کر� تا بتواند راه را تشخیص دهد. دست‌ه� و پاهایش، با آن که چند لایه پارچه دور آنها پیچیده بود، از شدت سرما درد می‌کر�. چند قدم آن طرف‌ت� لکه سیاه و مبهمی روی برف‌ه� پدیدار شد. این لکه سیاه، لاشه کلاغ یخ‌زده‌ا� بود. حتی این لاشخورهای مقاوم و جان سخت هم در آن زمستان بی‌نهای� سرد می‌مُردن�. یعنی از گرسنگی می‌مردند� چون لاشه جانوران چنان یخ می‌ز� که حتی کلاغ‌ه� هم نمی‌توانستن� با منقارشان یخ را بشکنند و گوشتی از استخوان جدا کنند. تن قابله داستان ما از تماشای این منظره می‌لرزی� و بر سرعت گام‌های� می‌افزو�. درد زایمان همسر کشیش روستا آغاز شده بود. هروترود با تلخی بسیار با خود گفت: این کوچولو هم چه وقت خوبی را برای تولد انتخاب کرده است! فقط در همین یک ماه گذشته پنج نوزاد به دنیا آوردم که هیچ یک از آنها بیشتر از دو هفته زنده نمانده‌ان�.
832 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
1,679 people are currently reading
50.3k people want to read
About the author
Donna Woolfolk Cross
11books380followersDonna Woolfolk Cross graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969 with a B.A. in English. She moved to London, England, after graduation, and worked as an editorial assistant for a small publishing house on Fleet Street, W.H. Allen and Company. Upon her return to the United States, Cross worked at Young and Rubicam, a Madison Avenue advertising firm, before going on to graduate school at UCLA where she earned a master's degree in Literature and Writing in 1972.
In 1973, Cross moved with her husband to upstate New York where she began teaching writing in a college English Department. Now writing is her fulltime career.
She is the author of two books on language, Word Abuse: How the Words We Use Use Us and Mediaspeak: How Television Makes Up Your Mind. She is the coauthor of Speaking of Words and Daddy's Little Girl. The product of seven years of research and writing, Pope Joan is her first novel. She is now at work on a new novel set in 17th century France.
In 1973, Cross moved with her husband to upstate New York where she began teaching writing in a college English Department. Now writing is her fulltime career.
She is the author of two books on language, Word Abuse: How the Words We Use Use Us and Mediaspeak: How Television Makes Up Your Mind. She is the coauthor of Speaking of Words and Daddy's Little Girl. The product of seven years of research and writing, Pope Joan is her first novel. She is now at work on a new novel set in 17th century France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,161 reviews
June 17, 2011
Interesting take on the legend, but has some flaws. I think I'm going to be another one in the minority here. I found the idea of a woman disguised as a man seated on the papal throne to be an interesting legend and the author did a decent job with it. I appreciated the research the author took on the period and customs of the times, which is not an easy task as so much is unknown about the dark ages.
The problem I had is the incredible coincidences throughout the book where Joan is just saved in the nick of time in true soap opera fashion (think Days of Our Lives -- no better yet the Perils of Pauline) from disaster upon disaster to chance upon chance of being discovered as a woman, to the near escape from the Viking raid and more ad infinitum. It never stopped until the very end, there were so many times where you just want to roll your eyes and say give me a break!
All in all a light pleasant read, but not one I'm apt to write home to friends and family about nor one I will want to pick up and read again. I'd recommend getting it from the library first, and then buy it if you love it. JMHO.
The problem I had is the incredible coincidences throughout the book where Joan is just saved in the nick of time in true soap opera fashion (think Days of Our Lives -- no better yet the Perils of Pauline) from disaster upon disaster to chance upon chance of being discovered as a woman, to the near escape from the Viking raid and more ad infinitum. It never stopped until the very end, there were so many times where you just want to roll your eyes and say give me a break!
All in all a light pleasant read, but not one I'm apt to write home to friends and family about nor one I will want to pick up and read again. I'd recommend getting it from the library first, and then buy it if you love it. JMHO.
February 11, 2023
Rise of a woman disguised as a man to the highest post of Catholic Church in 8th century is told in a very engaging manner. I enjoyed it. Also, the author's note in support of her story were an interesting read.
March 22, 2008
About the only female pope back in the 9th century. The Catholic Church today treats Pope Joan as legend created by the Protestants, but with over 500 documents to prove she did exist, it is but another bureaucratic cover-up.
A woman from Frankish lands with Saxon and English heritage in the 9th century going out there and doing it for herself. It is a thinking person's book. Lots of Latin in there, of course, because the language used in the church then was Latin. But don't let that stop you from reading it. You don't have to understand the Latin to follow what's going on. Cross uses words that are not commonly used now, e.g. basileus for king, throughout the book to put you in the story--not too much to put you off, but enough to make you stop and think. Great for keeping the grey matter active. Oh, and there is a love story in there, too. There are times that I think that 20th century thinking and attitudes tend to creep into the story but not enough to distract from it.
I picked this up at a book exchange a couple of years back, because I needed to pick one more book. I was in the mood, recently, to read something historical that I could immerse myself in. The story sucked me in from the very beginning--a very good sign. What more can I say, but this book was exactly what the doctor ordered. It is well-researched and well written. There are a few moments that seem contrived, but that's why it's called a _novel_. I still gave it a 5-star rating, though--excellent. An unexpected surprise to relieve my daily stress. Highly recommended.
A woman from Frankish lands with Saxon and English heritage in the 9th century going out there and doing it for herself. It is a thinking person's book. Lots of Latin in there, of course, because the language used in the church then was Latin. But don't let that stop you from reading it. You don't have to understand the Latin to follow what's going on. Cross uses words that are not commonly used now, e.g. basileus for king, throughout the book to put you in the story--not too much to put you off, but enough to make you stop and think. Great for keeping the grey matter active. Oh, and there is a love story in there, too. There are times that I think that 20th century thinking and attitudes tend to creep into the story but not enough to distract from it.
I picked this up at a book exchange a couple of years back, because I needed to pick one more book. I was in the mood, recently, to read something historical that I could immerse myself in. The story sucked me in from the very beginning--a very good sign. What more can I say, but this book was exactly what the doctor ordered. It is well-researched and well written. There are a few moments that seem contrived, but that's why it's called a _novel_. I still gave it a 5-star rating, though--excellent. An unexpected surprise to relieve my daily stress. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2024
Powerful, moving and inspiring!
POPE JOAN is the amazing story of a woman born out of her time - an intelligent, ambitious survivor who uses her wits and womanly nature to live in an utterly ruthless, sexist man's world and rise to the highest pinnacle of her beliefs and her calling. Her courage, her abilities, her faith and her desire to learn and to succeed despite the obstacles placed in her path at every turning by her family and her profession are a clarion call to modern women of all faiths.
Perhaps there were female cardinals, archbishops or bishops and their existence was exaggerated and twisted into the legend of Pope Joan. At the end of the day, whether or not there actually was a Pope Joan doesn't really matter. As you read the story, Cross will make you realize that the myth certainly could have been true. Perhaps even more important, while it is unlikely that we'll ever know for certain, any reader of Pope Joan will finish the story with the hope that it is.
Many readers may not agree with me but I have the strongest feeling that, as long as celibacy remains a requirement for ordination in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Joan discloses one of the obvious corollary reasons for their ongoing refusal to accept ordination of women. If a female priest succumbs to human frailty such as Joan did, she also suffers the unfortunate outcome of pregnancy as a signpost pointing to a "sin" that the whole world can see. Males with the same human shortcomings can rut like bull elephants and, unless they're caught, the world is none the wiser. Even where a male priest is caught, the world can still pretend and turn a blind eye. Just my opinion, of course, but I don't suppose for a second that the RC Church would like to get caught with its proverbial pants down by having "weak-willed" female priests demonstrate their human weakness and frailty to the whole world by getting pregnant?
POPE JOAN is an amazing novel, replete with strong characters as well as historical backgrounds and settings that fairly leap off the pages with life. This one's a must read for lovers of historical fiction.
Paul Weiss
POPE JOAN is the amazing story of a woman born out of her time - an intelligent, ambitious survivor who uses her wits and womanly nature to live in an utterly ruthless, sexist man's world and rise to the highest pinnacle of her beliefs and her calling. Her courage, her abilities, her faith and her desire to learn and to succeed despite the obstacles placed in her path at every turning by her family and her profession are a clarion call to modern women of all faiths.
Perhaps there were female cardinals, archbishops or bishops and their existence was exaggerated and twisted into the legend of Pope Joan. At the end of the day, whether or not there actually was a Pope Joan doesn't really matter. As you read the story, Cross will make you realize that the myth certainly could have been true. Perhaps even more important, while it is unlikely that we'll ever know for certain, any reader of Pope Joan will finish the story with the hope that it is.
Many readers may not agree with me but I have the strongest feeling that, as long as celibacy remains a requirement for ordination in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Joan discloses one of the obvious corollary reasons for their ongoing refusal to accept ordination of women. If a female priest succumbs to human frailty such as Joan did, she also suffers the unfortunate outcome of pregnancy as a signpost pointing to a "sin" that the whole world can see. Males with the same human shortcomings can rut like bull elephants and, unless they're caught, the world is none the wiser. Even where a male priest is caught, the world can still pretend and turn a blind eye. Just my opinion, of course, but I don't suppose for a second that the RC Church would like to get caught with its proverbial pants down by having "weak-willed" female priests demonstrate their human weakness and frailty to the whole world by getting pregnant?
POPE JOAN is an amazing novel, replete with strong characters as well as historical backgrounds and settings that fairly leap off the pages with life. This one's a must read for lovers of historical fiction.
Paul Weiss
July 10, 2011
NO SPOILERS!!!
In conclusion, having completed this novel, having struggled through to the end, I can say I did not like it. I didn't like it from the start to the end. When I voice this opinion, I am obviously in the minority. I do appreciate that the author concluded with an informative author's note, which supports her belief that Pope Joan did exist, between the acknowledged Pope Leo IV and Pope Benedict III. I found her arguments undeniably convincing. I do not know whether Pope Joan existed or not, but I find the author's points valid. Before I can say Pope Joan didn't exist, I would need to have several questions answered.
However whether Pope Joan existed or not is irrelevant to how I judge this book. I did not like how the story was told. The characters were two-dimensional. There were the good guys and the bad guys. I vehemently disliked the cinematic tone characteristic of the entire novel. It was ridiculously romantic and melodramatic. Rarely do I so dislike a book. I have said enough. Below you will see what has annoyed me as I read through the book. I do not need to reapeat these criticisms. It is not the description of the era and the historical events that I am complaiming about. I am complaining about how the story was told. I would not choose to read another book by this author, but she doesn't need me since many others adore her writing.
***
Through page 204: I have read further. One aspect of the book that I think the author handles well is the description of the era - the religious beliefs, historical events, soothsayers, celebration of feast and market gatherings. What I am enjoying is the author's descriptive abilities, her description of the time and place. The struggles between the Saxons, Franks and Norsemen and between pagan and early Christian beliefs are included in the story. This I appreciate, but even here the depiction is rather cinematic. The reader cannot help but grasp the trends of the era.
Through page 148: Maybe my mood is off, but I find disappointing. I find the characters simplistic and feminism emphasized to an extreme. It also feels like a romance novel. And Luke, he is a wolf for heaven's sake. A wolf cub will not behave as he is portrayed in this novel. It is too cute. John(Joan's brother) is too stupid and jealous and bad, while Joan is so smart and forgiving and brave. You can stack the characters in two groups - the good guys or the bad guys.
Here is an excerpt about the white wolf cub, Luke. You judge. Isn't this meant for the movies?
She looked at Luke. "Will it work, Luke? Will it be enough to save me?"
He titlted his head inquisitively, as if trying to understand. It was a mannerism that always amused Gerold. Joan hugged the white wolf, burying her face in the thick fur ringing his neck. (page 142)
A movie has been made. Perfect!
Maybe it will improve. I do not give up easily. Oh, I have had bad luck lately. This will be my third "not so hot" book in a row.
***
Through page 98: I know this is a minor quibble but it is irritating. How can one put a cover on a book that completely missrepresents the person's appearance? In the book Joan has practically white-blonde hair, deep set eyes of a grry-green color and a thick fringe of eyelashes. Look at the cover on my book! How can you put this cover on this book?
It is a fun read, but I feel the primary message is feministic. On every page you are confronted with how horribly and unjustly women are treated. I know this is an accurate description of the times, but the message doesn't have to be pounded into our skulls.
So far the characters are rather simplistic. Joan is so curious and intelligent. John, her older brother is so unscholarly. Joan's father is such a missguided religious fanatic and her Mom, such a "Mom", loving her child deeply but also rather selfishly. I planned to just read this for fun. Stop being so critical, Chrissie!
Maybe I shoule read next.
In conclusion, having completed this novel, having struggled through to the end, I can say I did not like it. I didn't like it from the start to the end. When I voice this opinion, I am obviously in the minority. I do appreciate that the author concluded with an informative author's note, which supports her belief that Pope Joan did exist, between the acknowledged Pope Leo IV and Pope Benedict III. I found her arguments undeniably convincing. I do not know whether Pope Joan existed or not, but I find the author's points valid. Before I can say Pope Joan didn't exist, I would need to have several questions answered.
However whether Pope Joan existed or not is irrelevant to how I judge this book. I did not like how the story was told. The characters were two-dimensional. There were the good guys and the bad guys. I vehemently disliked the cinematic tone characteristic of the entire novel. It was ridiculously romantic and melodramatic. Rarely do I so dislike a book. I have said enough. Below you will see what has annoyed me as I read through the book. I do not need to reapeat these criticisms. It is not the description of the era and the historical events that I am complaiming about. I am complaining about how the story was told. I would not choose to read another book by this author, but she doesn't need me since many others adore her writing.
***
Through page 204: I have read further. One aspect of the book that I think the author handles well is the description of the era - the religious beliefs, historical events, soothsayers, celebration of feast and market gatherings. What I am enjoying is the author's descriptive abilities, her description of the time and place. The struggles between the Saxons, Franks and Norsemen and between pagan and early Christian beliefs are included in the story. This I appreciate, but even here the depiction is rather cinematic. The reader cannot help but grasp the trends of the era.
Through page 148: Maybe my mood is off, but I find disappointing. I find the characters simplistic and feminism emphasized to an extreme. It also feels like a romance novel. And Luke, he is a wolf for heaven's sake. A wolf cub will not behave as he is portrayed in this novel. It is too cute. John(Joan's brother) is too stupid and jealous and bad, while Joan is so smart and forgiving and brave. You can stack the characters in two groups - the good guys or the bad guys.
Here is an excerpt about the white wolf cub, Luke. You judge. Isn't this meant for the movies?
She looked at Luke. "Will it work, Luke? Will it be enough to save me?"
He titlted his head inquisitively, as if trying to understand. It was a mannerism that always amused Gerold. Joan hugged the white wolf, burying her face in the thick fur ringing his neck. (page 142)
A movie has been made. Perfect!
Maybe it will improve. I do not give up easily. Oh, I have had bad luck lately. This will be my third "not so hot" book in a row.
***
Through page 98: I know this is a minor quibble but it is irritating. How can one put a cover on a book that completely missrepresents the person's appearance? In the book Joan has practically white-blonde hair, deep set eyes of a grry-green color and a thick fringe of eyelashes. Look at the cover on my book! How can you put this cover on this book?
It is a fun read, but I feel the primary message is feministic. On every page you are confronted with how horribly and unjustly women are treated. I know this is an accurate description of the times, but the message doesn't have to be pounded into our skulls.
So far the characters are rather simplistic. Joan is so curious and intelligent. John, her older brother is so unscholarly. Joan's father is such a missguided religious fanatic and her Mom, such a "Mom", loving her child deeply but also rather selfishly. I planned to just read this for fun. Stop being so critical, Chrissie!
Maybe I shoule read next.
June 12, 2007
Before I started reading this book I gave a brief summary to some of my friends who saw that I had just bought it and were wondering about it. That got us into a heated discussion about how completely outrageous it is for a woman to dress up as a man. How it's pretty much impossible to get away with it seeing as you'll always end up in some sort of situation where you have to reveal yourself for what you really are.
That discussion ended up shading me slightly when I began to read, thinking, "Really? How is she going to be able to pull it off?" speaking of both the author and Joan herself. But both were able to pull it off quite well and realistically.
Not to be sexist, I don't know how much a guy would really enjoy this book, but I hope he would. I would hope that he would actually pick up and read this book, because if you look past all the religious controversy of a woman being Pope, there is an underlying story of the beginning of feminism and a woman standing up for herself and pursuing her own dreams and desires despite everything that goes against her. I would hope that a man would read this and realize that every woman has this potential and we are truly equal to men.
Pope Joan, or at least the character of her in this book, is truly an inspiration to women everywhere. She defied the odds and did everything she could to get what she wanted. And apparently, if you want to bring in a religious aspect to this as well, God wanted this all for her too, or else things would not have worked out the way they did with narrow escapes and fortunate meetings.
I honestly don't have much to criticize with this book. I enjoyed it a lot and reading the author's notes at the end piqued my interest about this supposedly "fictional" character. There is something in this book that will grab you, I guarentee it. Be it the historical facts and events that were traced, be it the slight tale of romance hiding inside the bigger story, maybe it's Joan herself and her pursuit of knowledge, maybe it's the outrageous way women were treated. There will be something in this book for you, I'm sure. Overall, I highly reccommend this book.
That discussion ended up shading me slightly when I began to read, thinking, "Really? How is she going to be able to pull it off?" speaking of both the author and Joan herself. But both were able to pull it off quite well and realistically.
Not to be sexist, I don't know how much a guy would really enjoy this book, but I hope he would. I would hope that he would actually pick up and read this book, because if you look past all the religious controversy of a woman being Pope, there is an underlying story of the beginning of feminism and a woman standing up for herself and pursuing her own dreams and desires despite everything that goes against her. I would hope that a man would read this and realize that every woman has this potential and we are truly equal to men.
Pope Joan, or at least the character of her in this book, is truly an inspiration to women everywhere. She defied the odds and did everything she could to get what she wanted. And apparently, if you want to bring in a religious aspect to this as well, God wanted this all for her too, or else things would not have worked out the way they did with narrow escapes and fortunate meetings.
I honestly don't have much to criticize with this book. I enjoyed it a lot and reading the author's notes at the end piqued my interest about this supposedly "fictional" character. There is something in this book that will grab you, I guarentee it. Be it the historical facts and events that were traced, be it the slight tale of romance hiding inside the bigger story, maybe it's Joan herself and her pursuit of knowledge, maybe it's the outrageous way women were treated. There will be something in this book for you, I'm sure. Overall, I highly reccommend this book.
November 29, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟فوق العاده بود 👍
ماجرا از این قرار است:
در قرن ۹ میلادی،در سرزمین فرانک ها،دختری به نام «یوهانا» از کشیش سختگیر و متعصب و مادری ساکسونی (که مسیحی نبود) بدنیا آمد که استعداد درخشانی داشت و زمانی به دانش پزشکی و علم فلسفه را فرا گرفت که در قرون وسطا،درهای دانش به روی زنان و دختران مطلقاً بسته بود.
الهام بخش یوهانا،برادرش «ماتیاس» بود که در ۱۳ سالگی فوت میکند و استادِ برادرش که گاهی به او نیز درس میداد به نام «اسکولاپیوس» که اولین کتاب را به او داد و تمام مشکلات یوهانا از آنجا شروع شد...
هر چند که خودِ یوهانا،آنها را مشکل نمیداند.
سالیان بعد که یوهانا و یوهانس(برادرش) به صومعه رفتند و در طی جنگ غیر منتظره ساکسونی ها،برادرش یوهانس در جنگ کشته میشود.
او مجبور میشود لباسهای برادرش را بپوشید و از آن روز به بعد تا آخر عمر، مَرد میشود👨
یوهانا سالها در صومعه ایی بود که «پزشکی» را خیلی زود با هوش سرشارش در آنجا فرا گرفت و «کشیش» شد.ام� بعد از ۱۲ سال در پی اتفاقی به رُم رفت و با دانش و پزشکی خود به شهرت والایی رسید و سرانجام با لقب «یوهانس اینگل هایم» بر تخت «پاپ اعظم» نشست �
یوهانا که از ۱۴ سالگی عاشق یک فرمانده به نام «گرولد» شده بود که این عشق تا آخر عمر ادامه دارد و در پی یک توطئه،هم گرولد و هم یوهانا بر اثر سقط جنین میمیرند و همه میفهمند که «یوهانا،پاپ مونث بوده».👧
و در پایان شصت سال میگذرد و دختری به آرنالدو که به تشویق یوهانا درس خود را ادامه داده بود،مانند یوهانا،خود را به شکل مردها در می آورد و کشیش میشود. او از خود سوال بزرگی میکند: چند تن دیگر از این بانوان این سرزمین مثل یوهانا و من زندگی می کنند؟! �
آرنالدو کار بزرگی کرد!!!!!
او نام «یوحنا پاپ مونث» را در کتاب نامدارِ liber pontificalis,تاریخچه رسمی و زندگانی پاپ های اعظم،نگاشت و دین خود را به او ادا کرد.
🔷یادداشت نویسنده:
✔ای� نوشتار،داستان زنی ست که رویای شیرینی را تجربه کرده است،داستانی برای زنان قوی و با اراده ای که رویای آزادی را در سر می پروراندند.
✔د� برهه ای از تاریخ،به مدت ۸۰۰ سال_از اواسط قرن ۹ تا اوایل قرن ۱۷_سلطنت روحانی پاپ یوحنای مونث موضوعی آشکار و معلوم بود و واقعیتی تاریخی محسوب میشد،اما بعدها در قرن ۱۷ در پی جریانی نام و شخصیت یوحنای مونث از ذهن و معلومات مردم،عملاً حذف و ناپدید شد.
✔ترجم� عالی و� خیلی شیوا و رَوان بود (البته حس میکنم جاهاییش سانسور داشت ولی اونقدر نبود که لطمه ایی به داستان بزنه)
ماجرا از این قرار است:
در قرن ۹ میلادی،در سرزمین فرانک ها،دختری به نام «یوهانا» از کشیش سختگیر و متعصب و مادری ساکسونی (که مسیحی نبود) بدنیا آمد که استعداد درخشانی داشت و زمانی به دانش پزشکی و علم فلسفه را فرا گرفت که در قرون وسطا،درهای دانش به روی زنان و دختران مطلقاً بسته بود.
الهام بخش یوهانا،برادرش «ماتیاس» بود که در ۱۳ سالگی فوت میکند و استادِ برادرش که گاهی به او نیز درس میداد به نام «اسکولاپیوس» که اولین کتاب را به او داد و تمام مشکلات یوهانا از آنجا شروع شد...
هر چند که خودِ یوهانا،آنها را مشکل نمیداند.
سالیان بعد که یوهانا و یوهانس(برادرش) به صومعه رفتند و در طی جنگ غیر منتظره ساکسونی ها،برادرش یوهانس در جنگ کشته میشود.
او مجبور میشود لباسهای برادرش را بپوشید و از آن روز به بعد تا آخر عمر، مَرد میشود👨
یوهانا سالها در صومعه ایی بود که «پزشکی» را خیلی زود با هوش سرشارش در آنجا فرا گرفت و «کشیش» شد.ام� بعد از ۱۲ سال در پی اتفاقی به رُم رفت و با دانش و پزشکی خود به شهرت والایی رسید و سرانجام با لقب «یوهانس اینگل هایم» بر تخت «پاپ اعظم» نشست �
یوهانا که از ۱۴ سالگی عاشق یک فرمانده به نام «گرولد» شده بود که این عشق تا آخر عمر ادامه دارد و در پی یک توطئه،هم گرولد و هم یوهانا بر اثر سقط جنین میمیرند و همه میفهمند که «یوهانا،پاپ مونث بوده».👧
و در پایان شصت سال میگذرد و دختری به آرنالدو که به تشویق یوهانا درس خود را ادامه داده بود،مانند یوهانا،خود را به شکل مردها در می آورد و کشیش میشود. او از خود سوال بزرگی میکند: چند تن دیگر از این بانوان این سرزمین مثل یوهانا و من زندگی می کنند؟! �
آرنالدو کار بزرگی کرد!!!!!
او نام «یوحنا پاپ مونث» را در کتاب نامدارِ liber pontificalis,تاریخچه رسمی و زندگانی پاپ های اعظم،نگاشت و دین خود را به او ادا کرد.
🔷یادداشت نویسنده:
✔ای� نوشتار،داستان زنی ست که رویای شیرینی را تجربه کرده است،داستانی برای زنان قوی و با اراده ای که رویای آزادی را در سر می پروراندند.
✔د� برهه ای از تاریخ،به مدت ۸۰۰ سال_از اواسط قرن ۹ تا اوایل قرن ۱۷_سلطنت روحانی پاپ یوحنای مونث موضوعی آشکار و معلوم بود و واقعیتی تاریخی محسوب میشد،اما بعدها در قرن ۱۷ در پی جریانی نام و شخصیت یوحنای مونث از ذهن و معلومات مردم،عملاً حذف و ناپدید شد.
✔ترجم� عالی و� خیلی شیوا و رَوان بود (البته حس میکنم جاهاییش سانسور داشت ولی اونقدر نبود که لطمه ایی به داستان بزنه)
July 1, 2021
Pope Joan is seen by some as pure legend and some argue that “history provides many examples of deliberate falsification of records� in order to cover such historical figure as female Pope. Nevertheless, what this book offers is a vivid portrait of the harsh reality for women in the Middle Ages and some went into such measures as to disguise themselves as men to achieve something they would have never had a chance to do as women.
814, Hrotrud, the village midwife of Ingelheim, Frankland, goes to canon’s house to deliver his wife’s third child. The canon doesn’t hide his distaste, when he sees it’s a girl. He names her Joan.
From early age, Joan is a curious child, full of questions. At the age of 6, she asks her oldest brother to teach her to write. Hesitant at first, as education was strictly for men and their father wouldn’t like it, but at her persistence he relinquish. Her pestering continues, now she wants him to teach her tor read, “her eagerness spoke directly to his heart. (�) What a strange creature she was, so inquisitive, so determined, so sure of herself.�
When her oldest brother dies, she continues to dream and yearn for knowledge. “Everyone told her that her desire to learn was unnatural. Yet she thirsted for knowledge, yearned to explore the larger world of ideas and opportunities that was open to people of learning.�
Everything changes when a scholar named Aesculapius arrives at their house. He recognizes that “the girl shows every sign of a prodigious intellect.� He volunteers to teach her. Joan quickly realizes that he is so “different from her father. He refuses to tell her things, insisting instead that she reason her own way to the answer.� And she does to a point that it puts them on a dangerous ground. Aesculapius tells her, “It would probably be wise not to mention this conversation to your father.� He also warns her, “Remember what I tell you, and be careful: some ideas are dangerous.�
When Joan asks her mom why she married her father, her response makes a lot of sense, but she leaves her daughter with these words: “To marry is to surrender everything � not only your body but your pride, your independence, even your life. (�) Heed my words, daughter, if you ever mean to be happy: Never give yourself to a man.�
In order to continue her studies at a Benedictine monastery, she is forced to disguise as a man. Where one sees harshness, another sees opportunity. The library full of books, now Joan can study as much as she wishes. And she also shows brilliant promise as a healer, which later takes her to Rome, where her “successes as a healer put her services much in demand.�
Meticulously researched, brilliantly depicted story of the hardship and harshness of simple living in the Middle Ages, of women being practically a possession of men, of exceptional women disguising as men to achieve unachievable.
This is one of the most engrossing and one of the best books I have ever read.
814, Hrotrud, the village midwife of Ingelheim, Frankland, goes to canon’s house to deliver his wife’s third child. The canon doesn’t hide his distaste, when he sees it’s a girl. He names her Joan.
From early age, Joan is a curious child, full of questions. At the age of 6, she asks her oldest brother to teach her to write. Hesitant at first, as education was strictly for men and their father wouldn’t like it, but at her persistence he relinquish. Her pestering continues, now she wants him to teach her tor read, “her eagerness spoke directly to his heart. (�) What a strange creature she was, so inquisitive, so determined, so sure of herself.�
When her oldest brother dies, she continues to dream and yearn for knowledge. “Everyone told her that her desire to learn was unnatural. Yet she thirsted for knowledge, yearned to explore the larger world of ideas and opportunities that was open to people of learning.�
Everything changes when a scholar named Aesculapius arrives at their house. He recognizes that “the girl shows every sign of a prodigious intellect.� He volunteers to teach her. Joan quickly realizes that he is so “different from her father. He refuses to tell her things, insisting instead that she reason her own way to the answer.� And she does to a point that it puts them on a dangerous ground. Aesculapius tells her, “It would probably be wise not to mention this conversation to your father.� He also warns her, “Remember what I tell you, and be careful: some ideas are dangerous.�
When Joan asks her mom why she married her father, her response makes a lot of sense, but she leaves her daughter with these words: “To marry is to surrender everything � not only your body but your pride, your independence, even your life. (�) Heed my words, daughter, if you ever mean to be happy: Never give yourself to a man.�
In order to continue her studies at a Benedictine monastery, she is forced to disguise as a man. Where one sees harshness, another sees opportunity. The library full of books, now Joan can study as much as she wishes. And she also shows brilliant promise as a healer, which later takes her to Rome, where her “successes as a healer put her services much in demand.�
Meticulously researched, brilliantly depicted story of the hardship and harshness of simple living in the Middle Ages, of women being practically a possession of men, of exceptional women disguising as men to achieve unachievable.
This is one of the most engrossing and one of the best books I have ever read.
February 3, 2018
Donna Wolfolk cross
نویسنده ای که تا بحال کتابی به فارسی از ایشان ترجمه نشده است جز کتاب پاپ یوحنا
در انتهای کتاب تعدادی سند تاریخی ذکر شده از وجود پاپ مونث در اسناد واتیکان که به عمد دستکاری شدن . پاپی که در حوالی سال ۸۵۰ میلادی می زیسته
یک پاپ مونث .
در زمانی که هنوز زنان به این باور نرسیده بودند که میتوانند حقوقی مساوی مردان طلب کنند و به جای احقاق حقوق خود لباس مردانه پوشیده و به فعالیت اجتماعی میپرداختند . تعداد این زنان هر چند کم اما نشان دهنده ی تلاش آنها برای حضور در جامعه بوده است . ترس از جامعه ی مرد سالار مانع شکایت زنان بوده است .
پس از چندین هزار سال از تمدن بشر همچنان ما زنان برای حقوق خود در حال جنگ و درگیری هستیم حقی که به واسطه ی زور مردانه از ما گرفته شده و شاید احقاق آنها هزاران سال دیگر به طول خواهد انجامید .
نویسنده ای که تا بحال کتابی به فارسی از ایشان ترجمه نشده است جز کتاب پاپ یوحنا
در انتهای کتاب تعدادی سند تاریخی ذکر شده از وجود پاپ مونث در اسناد واتیکان که به عمد دستکاری شدن . پاپی که در حوالی سال ۸۵۰ میلادی می زیسته
یک پاپ مونث .
در زمانی که هنوز زنان به این باور نرسیده بودند که میتوانند حقوقی مساوی مردان طلب کنند و به جای احقاق حقوق خود لباس مردانه پوشیده و به فعالیت اجتماعی میپرداختند . تعداد این زنان هر چند کم اما نشان دهنده ی تلاش آنها برای حضور در جامعه بوده است . ترس از جامعه ی مرد سالار مانع شکایت زنان بوده است .
پس از چندین هزار سال از تمدن بشر همچنان ما زنان برای حقوق خود در حال جنگ و درگیری هستیم حقی که به واسطه ی زور مردانه از ما گرفته شده و شاید احقاق آنها هزاران سال دیگر به طول خواهد انجامید .
July 1, 2011
If you've read the Clan of the Cave Bear series, you've met this heroine before - she's perfect, she invents everything, she can heal everyone of everything, she's a proto-New Age Woman who has fallen in love with the perfect man.
While there were parts of this story that were greatly enjoyable, the reliance on stock tricks to advance the plot and an opinion that you are either good or bad hampered the book.
While there were parts of this story that were greatly enjoyable, the reliance on stock tricks to advance the plot and an opinion that you are either good or bad hampered the book.
February 11, 2023
کتاب یوحنا پاپ مونث نوشته دونا کراس است. داستان درباره ی سرگذشت مسحور کننده یکی از فوق العاده ترین و با اراده ترین بانوان قرون وسطای مغرب زمین یوهانا(یوحنا) اینگل هایم است که نویسنده آن را در غالب رمانی تاریخی و هیجان انگیز، به رشته تحریر درآورده که تا قرن هفدهم شخصیتی آشنا و شناخته شده بود و تازه پس از آن تاریخ، نامش از اسناد رسمی واتیکان حذف و وجودش انکار شد.
در برهه ای دراز از تاریخ، به مدت هشتصد سال � از اواسط قرن نهم تا اوایل قرن هفدهم- سلطنت روحانی پاپ یوحنای مونث موضوعی آشکار و بر همگان معلوم بود و واقعیتی تاریخی محسوب می شد. اما در قرن هفدهم نهاد های مختلف کلیسای کاتولیک که خود را در معرض حملات فزاینده پروتستانیسم در حال رشد می دیدند، تلاش مشترکی را سازمان دادند که هدف آن نابود کردن تمام اسناد تاریخی و افشا گرانه درباره یوحنای مونث بود.
در برهه ای دراز از تاریخ، به مدت هشتصد سال � از اواسط قرن نهم تا اوایل قرن هفدهم- سلطنت روحانی پاپ یوحنای مونث موضوعی آشکار و بر همگان معلوم بود و واقعیتی تاریخی محسوب می شد. اما در قرن هفدهم نهاد های مختلف کلیسای کاتولیک که خود را در معرض حملات فزاینده پروتستانیسم در حال رشد می دیدند، تلاش مشترکی را سازمان دادند که هدف آن نابود کردن تمام اسناد تاریخی و افشا گرانه درباره یوحنای مونث بود.
August 14, 2019
Maybe I should NOT try to claim that I have actually and indeed finished reading Donna Woolfolk Cross' Pope Joan, as I have now tried to peruse this here novel a total of four times and not been able (or even in any way all that willing) to proceed past page 100 or so (always giving up in both despair and often even anger). However, and my sincere apologies to those of you who have actually loved Pope Joan (and there does seem to be quite a large number of fans), if I am unable to get past page 100 four times and counting, I do think that it is definitely the truth of the matter that I personally despise either the content or the author's writing style (or perhaps even a combination of both) to such an extent that I can and will only consider a one star ranking at best (and really, if I could, I would be giving even a lower score than one star to Pope Joan).
And with Pope Joan, MOST and actually, really ALL of my objections have indeed absolutely and utterly been with regard to the manner in which the plot is depicted and its narrational set-up, with the manner in which the story is written (is being told), in other words, my issues with Pope Joan are generally NOT with regard to the themes, the context, the information and details of the story, but with HOW Donna Woolfolk Cross has chosen to present, has chosen to pen her tale (for I personally do in no way either know or even dare make any comments as to whether a female pope perhaps did exist, as to whether there actually might have indeed been a historical, but for obvious reasons officially denied and suppressed by the Catholic Church Pope Joan, and truth be told, I actually did rather enjoy perusing the well researched and informative author's note and think that Donna Woolfolk Cross's assertions that there likely was indeed a bona fide Pope Joan do make quite a bit of common and also intellectual sense).
But my in many ways glowing appreciation of the author's research on the topic of Pope Joan (and how Donna Woolford Cross has organised and penned her supplemental notes) quite and utterly notwithstanding, what has definitely and yes ALWAYS defeated me and majorly annoyed me every time I have tried to unsuccessfully peruse Pope Joan is simply and utterly that the author's writing style and mode of expression are simply and utterly NOT AT ALL for me (and that at least in my opinion, Pope Joan reads like pure and unadulterated cinematic trash, with history, cultural descriptions, with all that would make a historical fiction novel of interest to and for me being drowned out by one-dimensional stock-like characters, and a textual wallowing in sex, violence and mystery). And while this might well make Pope Joan interesting and engaging to and for some readers, for me, it has only made me cringe, grind my teeth and with frustration and exasperation cast Pope Joan aside every time I have attempted a perusal (with the last time grudgingly trying again because certain family members were continuously pontificating about how wonderfully and expressively Donna Woolfolk Cross supposedly writes, and I kind of wanted to at least make a fourth effort, as my family already thinks I am a total and much too academic book nerd and snob).
And with Pope Joan, MOST and actually, really ALL of my objections have indeed absolutely and utterly been with regard to the manner in which the plot is depicted and its narrational set-up, with the manner in which the story is written (is being told), in other words, my issues with Pope Joan are generally NOT with regard to the themes, the context, the information and details of the story, but with HOW Donna Woolfolk Cross has chosen to present, has chosen to pen her tale (for I personally do in no way either know or even dare make any comments as to whether a female pope perhaps did exist, as to whether there actually might have indeed been a historical, but for obvious reasons officially denied and suppressed by the Catholic Church Pope Joan, and truth be told, I actually did rather enjoy perusing the well researched and informative author's note and think that Donna Woolfolk Cross's assertions that there likely was indeed a bona fide Pope Joan do make quite a bit of common and also intellectual sense).
But my in many ways glowing appreciation of the author's research on the topic of Pope Joan (and how Donna Woolford Cross has organised and penned her supplemental notes) quite and utterly notwithstanding, what has definitely and yes ALWAYS defeated me and majorly annoyed me every time I have tried to unsuccessfully peruse Pope Joan is simply and utterly that the author's writing style and mode of expression are simply and utterly NOT AT ALL for me (and that at least in my opinion, Pope Joan reads like pure and unadulterated cinematic trash, with history, cultural descriptions, with all that would make a historical fiction novel of interest to and for me being drowned out by one-dimensional stock-like characters, and a textual wallowing in sex, violence and mystery). And while this might well make Pope Joan interesting and engaging to and for some readers, for me, it has only made me cringe, grind my teeth and with frustration and exasperation cast Pope Joan aside every time I have attempted a perusal (with the last time grudgingly trying again because certain family members were continuously pontificating about how wonderfully and expressively Donna Woolfolk Cross supposedly writes, and I kind of wanted to at least make a fourth effort, as my family already thinks I am a total and much too academic book nerd and snob).
May 19, 2008
I was so torn while reading this book. It was decent writing, the characters were strong--but there were a few problems for me. Everyone was a caricature with the exception of Joan. What I really hated, though, was how the author took a great possibility of a story and turned it into flaming feminist rhetoric. Every favorite feminist theme was there, from rape and abuse to abortion. Why can't smart girls sew and cook as well as dumb ones? And why isn't it OK to be dumb, for that matter, if you're a girl? The book showed with John (Joan's brother) that you can still be valiant and dumb. I found the love story completely crazy as well. It put Joan in the worst light; she was willing to sleep with the guy but not commit. Isn't that what our society deplores so much, but with men? I felt it was one of those books which seeks to take history and Oprah-ize it, put modern thoughts and feelings in characters from a real period in history. A dangerous game, if you ask me! I was disappointed because it was engaging and very descriptive. I have to admit that being a woman during the dark ages is always something I have shuddered to think about. I could go on, but you get the idea...remember, this is just my opinion!
April 1, 2022
Kaip man patinka knygos apie stiprias moteris, kurios siekia savo svajonių ir laužo visus standartus. Puikus istorinis romanas paremtas tikrais faktais. Joana - mergina gimusi niūriais viduramžių laikais, kai moters galimybės buvo ypač ribotos. Savo užsispyrimu, atkaklumu ir nuosekliais žingsneliais pirmyn, ji pasiekė tiek, kad tapo legenda, moteris - popiežius. Prisidengė vyro įvaizdžiu ir atsisakė daugelio dalykų, kad tik galėtų mokytis. Buvo puiki gydytoja ir patarėja, labai išmintinga ir teisinga. Visą romaną žavi merginos drąsa ir ištvermė. Knyga palikusi didelį įspūdį, rekomenduoju!
🖋� Meilė yra liga. Ji keičia žmones, verčia juos keistai ir neišmintingai elgtis.
🖋� Taurė vyno padrąsina, bet, padauginęs jo, žmogus ima beprotiškai rizikuoti, pameta galvą, pasidaro pavojingas sau, ir kitiems.
🖋� Kai žmogus žino, ko nori, visada susigaudys, ką daryti.
🖋� Keistas daiktas ta mūsų širdis. Gali praeiti kažin kiek metų, tu susigyveni su netektimis, susitaikai su jomis, bet staiga praskrieja neatsargi mintis, ir skausmas atsinaujina, gelia taip aštriai it ką tik atsivėrusi kraujuojanti žaizda.
🖋� Pasaulis ne toks, kokio mes norime, kad ir kaip išmoningai gebėtume jį vaizduotis.
🖋� Meilė yra liga. Ji keičia žmones, verčia juos keistai ir neišmintingai elgtis.
🖋� Taurė vyno padrąsina, bet, padauginęs jo, žmogus ima beprotiškai rizikuoti, pameta galvą, pasidaro pavojingas sau, ir kitiems.
🖋� Kai žmogus žino, ko nori, visada susigaudys, ką daryti.
🖋� Keistas daiktas ta mūsų širdis. Gali praeiti kažin kiek metų, tu susigyveni su netektimis, susitaikai su jomis, bet staiga praskrieja neatsargi mintis, ir skausmas atsinaujina, gelia taip aštriai it ką tik atsivėrusi kraujuojanti žaizda.
🖋� Pasaulis ne toks, kokio mes norime, kad ir kaip išmoningai gebėtume jį vaizduotis.
March 7, 2022
Lenda, história verdadeira, ou pura ficção - a verdade é que não há provas conclusivas da existência de Joana a Papisa - esse fator acaba por ser irrelevante, porque este livro lê-se do principio ao fim sem um momento de enfado, pouco me importando se é credível ou não.
A autora pegou no pouco que tinha e criou um romance muito bem construido, com um ritmo vertiginoso e um desenvolvimento que me sugou a atenção até ao final. Por vezes um excelente entretenimento é o melhor que nos pode acontecer. E ainda nos dá uma visão muito clara do quão medíocre era a condição das mulheres na Idade Média, tão desvalorizante que algumas preferiram assumir-se como homens para poderem alcançar mais oportunidades.
A autora pegou no pouco que tinha e criou um romance muito bem construido, com um ritmo vertiginoso e um desenvolvimento que me sugou a atenção até ao final. Por vezes um excelente entretenimento é o melhor que nos pode acontecer. E ainda nos dá uma visão muito clara do quão medíocre era a condição das mulheres na Idade Média, tão desvalorizante que algumas preferiram assumir-se como homens para poderem alcançar mais oportunidades.
February 10, 2015
This book had me hooked from the first paragraph!!! Awesome!!!
April 22, 2009
Whenever you see a legend, you can be sure, if you go to the very bottom of things, that you will find history. Vallet de Viriville
Joan Anglicus is a frustrated young girl. The brightest and most scholarly of all her siblings, she is often denied the chance to learn because of her sex. The Dark Ages were a time when womens brains were thought to be smaller than a man's and only needed for child bearing. Why teach a girl to read and write? Joan cannot accept this. She runs away with her older brother, and after he is killed in a Viking attack, she disguises herself and assumes his identity at a Benedictine monastery. As Brother John Anglicus, she is sought out for her great healing abilities and religious intellect, until eventually she is elevated to the highest throne in the world at the time, the papacy.
The story of Pope Joan, a woman who lived disguised as a man and rose to become pope of the Church in the ninth century, is one of the most fascinating in Western history, and one of the least known. Most that have heard of her regard her story as a legend contrived by Protestant reformers, or so the Catholic Church would have you believe, not at all based on facts. But as Viriville said, legend and history are often one in the same.
Even though much is not known of the Dark Ages, Woolfolk Cross has done her homework here. This book is well-researched and well-written. I was completely sucked in and had a hard time putting it down. I found the history fascinating. These troubled times were especially difficult for women - as they still are today in some countries. They had no property rights, no opportunity for education. They could be beaten and raped by their husbands at will. So it seems completely logical that a woman would chose to disguise herself as a man. She certainly wouldn’t have been the only woman in history to do so.
So why deny she existed at all? Extreme mortification of course, that a woman could deceive so many. History provides many examples of the deliberate falsification of records to suit the masses. But what of the proof? What of the so-called chair exam, where each candidate was examined to prove his manhood as part of the medieval papal conservation ceremony for almost six centuries? What of the “shunned street� in Rome on which Joan reportedly “John Anglicus gave birth to a child…�
Even with these facts, given the confusion of the ninth century, it is impossible to know for sure if she existed. We may never know if there really was a Pope Joan. True or not, I sure had a good time reading about it though. An excellent book.
Joan Anglicus is a frustrated young girl. The brightest and most scholarly of all her siblings, she is often denied the chance to learn because of her sex. The Dark Ages were a time when womens brains were thought to be smaller than a man's and only needed for child bearing. Why teach a girl to read and write? Joan cannot accept this. She runs away with her older brother, and after he is killed in a Viking attack, she disguises herself and assumes his identity at a Benedictine monastery. As Brother John Anglicus, she is sought out for her great healing abilities and religious intellect, until eventually she is elevated to the highest throne in the world at the time, the papacy.
The story of Pope Joan, a woman who lived disguised as a man and rose to become pope of the Church in the ninth century, is one of the most fascinating in Western history, and one of the least known. Most that have heard of her regard her story as a legend contrived by Protestant reformers, or so the Catholic Church would have you believe, not at all based on facts. But as Viriville said, legend and history are often one in the same.
Even though much is not known of the Dark Ages, Woolfolk Cross has done her homework here. This book is well-researched and well-written. I was completely sucked in and had a hard time putting it down. I found the history fascinating. These troubled times were especially difficult for women - as they still are today in some countries. They had no property rights, no opportunity for education. They could be beaten and raped by their husbands at will. So it seems completely logical that a woman would chose to disguise herself as a man. She certainly wouldn’t have been the only woman in history to do so.
So why deny she existed at all? Extreme mortification of course, that a woman could deceive so many. History provides many examples of the deliberate falsification of records to suit the masses. But what of the proof? What of the so-called chair exam, where each candidate was examined to prove his manhood as part of the medieval papal conservation ceremony for almost six centuries? What of the “shunned street� in Rome on which Joan reportedly “John Anglicus gave birth to a child…�
Even with these facts, given the confusion of the ninth century, it is impossible to know for sure if she existed. We may never know if there really was a Pope Joan. True or not, I sure had a good time reading about it though. An excellent book.
April 22, 2015
This was a novelisation of the life of the probably-real female pope, Pope Joan. So few records remain that historians cannot agree on whether she actually existed, and the "facts" of her life are few, so the author had lots of scope for invention. Her use, more than once, of amazing coincidences to get Joan out of trouble bothered me, but I couldn't fault the historical side of the novel. She obviously did a lot of research, and has recreated the look and feel of an often-overlooked part of history, which made for a fascinating read.
And, reading this book, you know why they called it "the Dark Ages". Her vivid descriptions of the life people led back then, and the terrible attitudes and superstitions of society, made me very glad I didn't live in those times. Everyone suffered, even the wealthy, but the poor lived short lives of deprivation and hardship. To be a poor woman was the worst of the worst, with men firmly convinced that women's brains weren't able to be educated--that even to try was a sin and an abomination--and that women were no more than a useful chattel.
Joan, in desperation to escape this limited life, seizes her opportunity to impersonate her dead brother, and takes his place as a monk at a monastery, where her clever mind delights in learning. Thus her gender-bending life begins, a life that takes her all the way to the Church's highest office, with no one any the wiser that "John Anglicus" is really a woman.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the mindset of the people of those times. Though their attitudes were enough to make a modern woman grind her teeth, it was interesting to get a feel for how people saw the world in those times. These characters aren't just modern people parading through the book in ninth century costumes. They truly are from another world. I'm glad that world is gone, but it was interesting to read about.
And, reading this book, you know why they called it "the Dark Ages". Her vivid descriptions of the life people led back then, and the terrible attitudes and superstitions of society, made me very glad I didn't live in those times. Everyone suffered, even the wealthy, but the poor lived short lives of deprivation and hardship. To be a poor woman was the worst of the worst, with men firmly convinced that women's brains weren't able to be educated--that even to try was a sin and an abomination--and that women were no more than a useful chattel.
Joan, in desperation to escape this limited life, seizes her opportunity to impersonate her dead brother, and takes his place as a monk at a monastery, where her clever mind delights in learning. Thus her gender-bending life begins, a life that takes her all the way to the Church's highest office, with no one any the wiser that "John Anglicus" is really a woman.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the mindset of the people of those times. Though their attitudes were enough to make a modern woman grind her teeth, it was interesting to get a feel for how people saw the world in those times. These characters aren't just modern people parading through the book in ninth century costumes. They truly are from another world. I'm glad that world is gone, but it was interesting to read about.
June 24, 2021
This is precisely the kind of juicy historical story I love! Was Pope Joan real? I don't doubt it. I can only imagine how many women disguised themselves as men in order to get an education/avoid a crappy marriage/live their best life during the Middle Ages. I really loved the details about everyday life, the infuriating feud between religion and science/common sense. "If she dies, it's God's will." "What if we . . . used medicine? Or like, bandaged that wound?" "No, brother, let us see if God magically stops the bleeding." I mean, honestly: WTF, medieval Christians? Ya bunch of weirdos!
Her writing really moved along at a clip, and she told the story without much faffing about. But I was disappointed that there wasn't much internal reflection on Joan's part. I didn't have a sense of her beliefs at all. It would have made sense for her to feel she had been called of God to minister to people, but she just sort of . . . did stuff? And she was very, very brilliant, and a little bit smug about it, but did she worry that she was being vain, or see it as a sign, or . . . anything? Much of the book is, of necessity, speculation, and the author is clear about that (the author's note at the end was GREAT). But if we're speculating about all the other things, why not go all in on her personality?
Still, really fascinating, absolutely recommend!
Her writing really moved along at a clip, and she told the story without much faffing about. But I was disappointed that there wasn't much internal reflection on Joan's part. I didn't have a sense of her beliefs at all. It would have made sense for her to feel she had been called of God to minister to people, but she just sort of . . . did stuff? And she was very, very brilliant, and a little bit smug about it, but did she worry that she was being vain, or see it as a sign, or . . . anything? Much of the book is, of necessity, speculation, and the author is clear about that (the author's note at the end was GREAT). But if we're speculating about all the other things, why not go all in on her personality?
Still, really fascinating, absolutely recommend!
December 30, 2009
Pope Joan is a figure I was aware of but knew next to nothing about, her existence is surrounded by mystery and so she seems the ideal figure to write a historical fiction novel about. Author Donna Woolfolk Cross writes an interesting tale about what could have been a young girl's life in that time.
Daughter of a canon who values women little and definitely finds them unworthy of an education her Joan has to struggle from early on to pursue her studies. Luckily she finds a monk willing to help her learn and who eventually will lead to her being accepted at a school. Much brighter and intelligent than her brother, Joan stands out as a student and eventually develops an attachment to Gerolt, the nobleman in whose house she leaves in. But Gerolt leaves and the village is attacked by Norsemen.
To survive Joan disguises herself as her dead brother and becomes John. As a man she is more easily accepted and continues her studies at the Fulda monastery and later travels to Rome where she is known as a dedicated scholar and a celebrated healer. Her fame is such that she is called to attend the Pope and so enters the Vatican's sphere of influence. There she will understand the politics behind the scenes and she will meet Gerolt again.
The story is very easy to read and proceeds at good pace. However I did feel that Joan, as a character, was a bit too perfect to be totally believable. Not only that but some things seem to happen too easily or too coincidentally. I suppose I would have liked to see more of her thought process and she having to work more to get where she ended up. She does have some painful decisions to make regarding her relationship with Gerolt but everything else seemed to fall into place quite easily. I did enjoy learning about the politics behind the throne, the same as in every other kingdom, and was surprised to learn about the power of the people in the election of the Pope.
History is full of possibilities and this was certainly an intriguing story that kept me interested till the end. Thank you so much to the author for sending me the book.
Grade: 4/5
Daughter of a canon who values women little and definitely finds them unworthy of an education her Joan has to struggle from early on to pursue her studies. Luckily she finds a monk willing to help her learn and who eventually will lead to her being accepted at a school. Much brighter and intelligent than her brother, Joan stands out as a student and eventually develops an attachment to Gerolt, the nobleman in whose house she leaves in. But Gerolt leaves and the village is attacked by Norsemen.
To survive Joan disguises herself as her dead brother and becomes John. As a man she is more easily accepted and continues her studies at the Fulda monastery and later travels to Rome where she is known as a dedicated scholar and a celebrated healer. Her fame is such that she is called to attend the Pope and so enters the Vatican's sphere of influence. There she will understand the politics behind the scenes and she will meet Gerolt again.
The story is very easy to read and proceeds at good pace. However I did feel that Joan, as a character, was a bit too perfect to be totally believable. Not only that but some things seem to happen too easily or too coincidentally. I suppose I would have liked to see more of her thought process and she having to work more to get where she ended up. She does have some painful decisions to make regarding her relationship with Gerolt but everything else seemed to fall into place quite easily. I did enjoy learning about the politics behind the throne, the same as in every other kingdom, and was surprised to learn about the power of the people in the election of the Pope.
History is full of possibilities and this was certainly an intriguing story that kept me interested till the end. Thank you so much to the author for sending me the book.
Grade: 4/5
May 25, 2013
Stunning story about the first alleged female Pope. Donna Woolfolk Cross takes a thousand year old legend and writes a compelling back story that left me with many questions. Pope Joan begins her life as a precocious English child with a thirst for knowledge who eventually fools everyone to become Pope. Steeped in history, Cross explains how this happened with a fascinating tale of ambition and adventure. A great read, she describes many common practices that the leaders of the church follow today, perhaps because of the impostor. If you like church history, read this. If you life woman's history, read this, If you like legends, read this. In other words, if you enjoy a well written tale of something that might have happened to influence the world as we know it today- this this is the book for you.
November 10, 2011
All in all I would say this book was an enjoyable read and there were some things about it which I found to be interesting. I did like the way in which this book explored the lives of women living in this time period and particularly explored the challenges and struggles of those women who did want to break the mold and wanted more for their lives than what was expected of them and what was allowed to them.
But there were some issues I had with the book.
One of my biggest complaints about the book is characterization. I felt the characters really lacked complexity and depth and were not very well developed. Most of the characters throughout the book are pigeonholed as either obvious good guys or obvious bad guys. They are all very black and white and one dimensional. Joan herself presented a rather frustrating character, for one thing it did not seem as if she ever really grew or developed as the story continued but from the start to the end she remained the same never matured or seem to learn from any of her experiences and so she always acted the same she did as a child in spite of her alleged wisdom and intelligence.
The other thing which bothered me was that while it seemed that the author was trying to portray Joan as being divinely chosen for her role as Pope in which throughout the book some miraculously event would always occur just in time to assist and save Joan from impending dissector. While there is no denying that Joan was gifted and uncommonly intelligent the author made it seem more as if Joan became Pope through shear luck and not because of her own accomplishments and abilities. Joan's lack of common sense, lack of ambition made her come off as not truly having been able to achieve her goals in life through her own cleverness and ability but it was always some outside force that intervened and pushed her forward in life, and without these many convenient acts of chance Joan would not have been able to achieve such accomplishment. In this way the author does detract from remarkable person Joan was supposed to be for in spite of trying to create a portrait of a strong woman it did make her seem almost passive in directing her own fate.
But there were some issues I had with the book.
One of my biggest complaints about the book is characterization. I felt the characters really lacked complexity and depth and were not very well developed. Most of the characters throughout the book are pigeonholed as either obvious good guys or obvious bad guys. They are all very black and white and one dimensional. Joan herself presented a rather frustrating character, for one thing it did not seem as if she ever really grew or developed as the story continued but from the start to the end she remained the same never matured or seem to learn from any of her experiences and so she always acted the same she did as a child in spite of her alleged wisdom and intelligence.
The other thing which bothered me was that while it seemed that the author was trying to portray Joan as being divinely chosen for her role as Pope in which throughout the book some miraculously event would always occur just in time to assist and save Joan from impending dissector. While there is no denying that Joan was gifted and uncommonly intelligent the author made it seem more as if Joan became Pope through shear luck and not because of her own accomplishments and abilities. Joan's lack of common sense, lack of ambition made her come off as not truly having been able to achieve her goals in life through her own cleverness and ability but it was always some outside force that intervened and pushed her forward in life, and without these many convenient acts of chance Joan would not have been able to achieve such accomplishment. In this way the author does detract from remarkable person Joan was supposed to be for in spite of trying to create a portrait of a strong woman it did make her seem almost passive in directing her own fate.
August 14, 2024
Pirmo reizi "Pāvesti Joannu" lasīju šķiet pirms aptuveni 20 gadiem, kad tā bija nesen iznākusi un es vēl mācījos vidusskolā. Tā bija viena no retajām, ko patiešām atceros visu šo laiku un tāpēc nešaubīgi un priecīgi ķēros klāt iespējai pārlasīt.
Nezinu, vai grāmata atstātu tik lielu iespaidu uz mani tagad, kad pamatā ir daudz lielāks visa cita lasītā segums, bet vīlusies nebiju.
Tāds klasisks vēsturisks romāns, kā centrā ir versija par sievieti, kura (kā jau vēsta nosaukums) par spīti visam viduslaikos pamanījās izglītoties, kļūt ievērojama līdz tādam līmenim, ka tika ievēlēta par pāvestu.
Interesanti, ka grūto izvēļu centrā viņai bija vēl viena ne tik savam laikam tipiska lieta (bet, protams, daudz iespējamāka) kā mīlestība. Ja grāmata būtu rakstīta šodien, gan jau sižetā izvērstu arī aizdomu līniju par attiecībām ar bruņinieku Geroldu, jo liekas jocīgi, ka nevienam nekas neliekas aizdomīgi, kad vidē, kurā daudzi pārkāpj baznīcas likumus ar savām partnerēm, diviem neprasti tuviem vīriešiem neviens nepievērš uzmanību.
Nezinu, vai grāmata atstātu tik lielu iespaidu uz mani tagad, kad pamatā ir daudz lielāks visa cita lasītā segums, bet vīlusies nebiju.
Tāds klasisks vēsturisks romāns, kā centrā ir versija par sievieti, kura (kā jau vēsta nosaukums) par spīti visam viduslaikos pamanījās izglītoties, kļūt ievērojama līdz tādam līmenim, ka tika ievēlēta par pāvestu.
Interesanti, ka grūto izvēļu centrā viņai bija vēl viena ne tik savam laikam tipiska lieta (bet, protams, daudz iespējamāka) kā mīlestība. Ja grāmata būtu rakstīta šodien, gan jau sižetā izvērstu arī aizdomu līniju par attiecībām ar bruņinieku Geroldu, jo liekas jocīgi, ka nevienam nekas neliekas aizdomīgi, kad vidē, kurā daudzi pārkāpj baznīcas likumus ar savām partnerēm, diviem neprasti tuviem vīriešiem neviens nepievērš uzmanību.
September 24, 2020
Loved this book! I always like strong female characters, and Joan is definitely that. Plus, there is a great love story. Plus it is a great feminist book, with a fictional howl of protest against the patriarchy of the Catholic church.
There is some historical evidence for a woman of the 9th century who posed as a man, rose through the Church hierarchy to the Papacy and was only discovered when she died giving birth. The evidence seems thin to me, but not completely impossible. It is intriguing.
This author did the same thing I did in my novel : took a little-known (and, in this case, possibly apocryphal) female historical character and made up a life for her. Very well done. My only complaint is that Joan is a little too perfect; I'd have liked her to be a little more flawed.
There is some historical evidence for a woman of the 9th century who posed as a man, rose through the Church hierarchy to the Papacy and was only discovered when she died giving birth. The evidence seems thin to me, but not completely impossible. It is intriguing.
This author did the same thing I did in my novel : took a little-known (and, in this case, possibly apocryphal) female historical character and made up a life for her. Very well done. My only complaint is that Joan is a little too perfect; I'd have liked her to be a little more flawed.
September 10, 2011
If I ever teach a creative writing course, I will probably use this book as an example of black-and-white characters.
I am impressed by the historical accuracy, although the first few chapters could use a good edit for "lookit my research look look I did my research," and I was initially cranky about the romance, but okay if the historical legend includes a stillbirth, I guess Joan had to get knocked up somewhere. (The ninth century: not really my area.)
The characterization is as flat as a good chocolate lace cookie. I finished this, and I'm not sure why.
I am impressed by the historical accuracy, although the first few chapters could use a good edit for "lookit my research look look I did my research," and I was initially cranky about the romance, but okay if the historical legend includes a stillbirth, I guess Joan had to get knocked up somewhere. (The ninth century: not really my area.)
The characterization is as flat as a good chocolate lace cookie. I finished this, and I'm not sure why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2019
20180524 | Review | Pope Joan
by Donna Cross
Donna Cross' book was one of those rare books that I simply could not put down. From cover to cover it kept my interest throughout.
Ms. Cross did an excellent job translating her research about 9th century European history, giving us a 'probable' scenario of what life was like during that time. Her end-notes indicates that life was tougher than what she wrote and that she needed to soften that part of the story. She also research Joan herself, indicating the 'blanks' in the church history when it came to the 2 year period that she was Pope. The church was able to erase most of the references to Joan, but not all. The church still claims that Joan was a lie created by leaders of the reformation.
We see Joan from little girl, daughter of a 'savage' norsewoman who was forced into marriage to a Catholic clergyman, Joan's 'accidental education', a father who was abusive, how she ended up in a school, her escape from an arranged marriage, an escape from a brutal Norseman raid, entering the monastery and her progression to the office of the Pope and everything in-between. With woman considered baby-making property, born to have a uterus 'bigger than their brain', it is understandable that a woman would want to enter the world of men disguised as a man. Even if Joan was a myth, the back story of the church, the intrigues, the popes and the corruption that was a picture of the church in 9th century Europe is well documented and well presented by Ms. Cross.
Pick it up, read it, don’t forget the back notes, and be happy, male or female, that you did not live at that time.
by Donna Cross
Donna Cross' book was one of those rare books that I simply could not put down. From cover to cover it kept my interest throughout.
Ms. Cross did an excellent job translating her research about 9th century European history, giving us a 'probable' scenario of what life was like during that time. Her end-notes indicates that life was tougher than what she wrote and that she needed to soften that part of the story. She also research Joan herself, indicating the 'blanks' in the church history when it came to the 2 year period that she was Pope. The church was able to erase most of the references to Joan, but not all. The church still claims that Joan was a lie created by leaders of the reformation.
We see Joan from little girl, daughter of a 'savage' norsewoman who was forced into marriage to a Catholic clergyman, Joan's 'accidental education', a father who was abusive, how she ended up in a school, her escape from an arranged marriage, an escape from a brutal Norseman raid, entering the monastery and her progression to the office of the Pope and everything in-between. With woman considered baby-making property, born to have a uterus 'bigger than their brain', it is understandable that a woman would want to enter the world of men disguised as a man. Even if Joan was a myth, the back story of the church, the intrigues, the popes and the corruption that was a picture of the church in 9th century Europe is well documented and well presented by Ms. Cross.
Pick it up, read it, don’t forget the back notes, and be happy, male or female, that you did not live at that time.
April 30, 2021
Pope Joan is myth and Donna Woolfolk Cross breathed life to the legend making a novelised version of it. This is book nr 16 in a row that I have rated 3 stars or less. I do not know it its just me picking up books that dosent fully work for me or I'm in a reading slump and cannot enjoy anything that I read. The base of the story was very compelling and interesting but I don't feel like I've been in the right brain frame for the book and I'll hopefully pick it up again in a later date and see how I'll enjoy it then.
January 13, 2021
Ein wirklich toller Roman über eine starke Frau und das Leben im Mittelalter! Hat mir wirklich bis auf ein paar zu zufällige und dramatische Szenen sehr gut gefallen.
April 27, 2012
Quis, quid, quomondo, ubi, quando, cur?
Quis � siapa?
Namanya Joan. Dilahirkan tahun 814 Masehi di Ingelheim (sekarang di wilayah Jerman). Putri satu-satunya seorang kanon (semacam pendeta atau imam) dari Inggris dan istrinya yang orang Saxon. Punya dua kakak laki-laki, Matthew dan John. Dari kecil sudah menampakkan kecerdasan dan keingintahuan yang luar biasa. Joan menderita siksaan fisik dari ayahnya gara-gara hal itu, tapi toh ia tidak mau berhenti belajar.
Quid � apa?
Perjuangan Joan, yang dengan karunia kecerdasan yang dimilikinya, menolak kenyataan yang terjadi pada masa itu bahwa perempuan tidak diperbolehkan untuk membaca dan menulis, apalagi belajar dan menguasai berbagai ilmu sebagaimana kaum laki-laki. Ditengah-tengah busuknya politik Kepausan Katolik Roma, ancaman Kaisar Lothar dari kerajaan Frank, ancaman wabah yang merajalela, dan juga serangan bangsa Viking, Joan menapaki langkah demi langkah menuju tahta tertinggi dalam Katolik Roma � Paus.
Quomondo � bagaimana?
Di satu titik Joan membuat suatu keputusan besar yang mengubah seluruh hidupnya � ia menyamar sebagai seorang laki-laki, sehingga ia bisa mempelajari banyak hal � sesuatu yang mustahil dilakukan seorang perempuan pada abad kesembilan. Keteguhannya untuk terus menjalani hidup sebagai laki-laki hampir tergoyahkan ketika ia jatuh cinta pada Gerold, seorang count yang menjadi ayah angkatnya di Dorstadt. Namun toh Joan tetap teguh melakukan apa yang menjadi hasratnya sampai nafasnya yang terakhir.
Ubi � Di mana?
Mengawali dengan bersekolah di Dorstadt oleh rujukan dari guru pertamanya, Aesculapius, seorang Yunani. Setelah lolos dari serangan brutal bangsa Viking di Dorstadt, Joan melarikan diri ke pertapaan di Fulda di mana ia menyamar sebagai laki-laki untuk pertama kalinya. Kemudian, setelah menghabiskan bertahun-tahun di Fulda, sebuah wabah demam nyaris membongkar penyamarannya sehingga ia kabur, dan akhirnya pergi ke Roma, menjadi tabib pribadi Paus Sergius, dan pada waktunya—ia sendiri yang diangkat menjadi Paus.
Quando � kapan?
Keseluruhan kisah berlangsung pada tahun 814 hingga 855 Masehi, yang termasuk dalam era Abad Kegelapan. Joan memerintah sebagai Paus pada tahun 853 hingga 855. Setelah Joan meninggal, Katolik Roma dibawah tulisan Anastasius menghapuskannya dari Liber pontificalis, yaitu kronik resmi seluruh Paus yang pernah ada. Empat puluh tahun setelah kematiannya, Uskup Agung Arnaldo menyalin Liber pontificalis dan menambahkan bab mengenai Joan ke dalamnya, sehingga kebenaran tidak sepenuhnya hilang.
Cur � mengapa?
Mengapa Joan sampai memilih meninggalkan identitas keperempuanannya? Karena ia punya impian, dan hasratnya terhadap impian tersebut demikian besarnya sehingga pengorbanan demi pengorbanan yang ia lakukan dirasanya setimpal. Mengapa lalu ia bisa sampai di tahta tertinggi Katolik Roma? Karena Joan mampu. Karena perempuan mampu, karena perempuan bukanlah makhluk yang bodoh dan lemah. Karena perempuan sejajar dengan laki-laki.
***
Pope Joan adalah sebuah novel yang lengkap. Sejarah, politik, perjuangan perempuan, agama, perang, cinta, pengorbanan, kemunafikan, kebrutalan manusia; semua terkandung di dalamnya. Sang pengarang, Donna Woolfolk Cross, menghimpun kisah ini dengan apik, tokoh-tokohnya terasa nyata dan emosinya dapet. Apalagi dengan alur cepat yang tidak membuat bosan. Walau di beberapa bagian emang sadis sih, terutama pas serangan bangsa Viking itu. Pope Joan versi film (2009) kurang mengesankan walaupun dari segi cast secara fisik sudah pas, setting juga bagus, tapi emosinya kurang terasa.
Salut untuk pengarang yang menyelesaikan penulisan Pope Joan setelah melakukan riset selama tujuh tahun. Salut juga untuk F.X. Dono Sunardi sang penerjemah, karena menerjemahkan karya ini sudah pasti bukan pekerjaan gampang. Puasss banget melahap lebih dari 700 halaman novel ini, karena wawasan bertambah banyak, terutama tentang sejarah, seluk-beluk kepausan di Katolik Roma, dan beberapa kalimat dalam bahasa Latin� Juga bagian Catatan dari Pengarang sungguh-sungguh membantu dalam memahami kisah.
Saran saya bagi penerbit yang hendak menerbitkan novel serupa: akan lebih nyaman kalau ada glossary di bagian belakang buku, terutama sih tentang berbagai istilah dan jabatan keagamaan yang tidak familiar bagi saya sehingga membuat saya jadi cukup bingung. Kalau sebatas catatan kaki, kan, kalau ketemu lagi dengan kata “X�, saya sudah lupa catatan kakinya ada di halaman berapa, hehehe.
Jadi, apakah Paus Joan pernah ada? Setelah membaca buku ini rasanya saya percaya kalau beliau benar-benar pernah ada. Bagaimanapun, kisahnya menginspirasi para perempuan (dan juga laki-laki) untuk tidak menyerah dan berani berkorban dalam berusaha mencapai impian.
Go for it, no matter what it takes! Empat bintang bagi kisah perempuan hebat yang nyaris terlupakan ini.
Beberapa kutipan favorit:
Catatan: “Quis, quid, quomondo, ubi, quando, cur?� tidak lain adalah 5W+1H (Who, what, when, where, why, how) yang konsep awalnya dirumuskan oleh filsuf Romawi Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 SM).
@melmarian
Quis � siapa?
Namanya Joan. Dilahirkan tahun 814 Masehi di Ingelheim (sekarang di wilayah Jerman). Putri satu-satunya seorang kanon (semacam pendeta atau imam) dari Inggris dan istrinya yang orang Saxon. Punya dua kakak laki-laki, Matthew dan John. Dari kecil sudah menampakkan kecerdasan dan keingintahuan yang luar biasa. Joan menderita siksaan fisik dari ayahnya gara-gara hal itu, tapi toh ia tidak mau berhenti belajar.
Quid � apa?
Perjuangan Joan, yang dengan karunia kecerdasan yang dimilikinya, menolak kenyataan yang terjadi pada masa itu bahwa perempuan tidak diperbolehkan untuk membaca dan menulis, apalagi belajar dan menguasai berbagai ilmu sebagaimana kaum laki-laki. Ditengah-tengah busuknya politik Kepausan Katolik Roma, ancaman Kaisar Lothar dari kerajaan Frank, ancaman wabah yang merajalela, dan juga serangan bangsa Viking, Joan menapaki langkah demi langkah menuju tahta tertinggi dalam Katolik Roma � Paus.
Quomondo � bagaimana?
Di satu titik Joan membuat suatu keputusan besar yang mengubah seluruh hidupnya � ia menyamar sebagai seorang laki-laki, sehingga ia bisa mempelajari banyak hal � sesuatu yang mustahil dilakukan seorang perempuan pada abad kesembilan. Keteguhannya untuk terus menjalani hidup sebagai laki-laki hampir tergoyahkan ketika ia jatuh cinta pada Gerold, seorang count yang menjadi ayah angkatnya di Dorstadt. Namun toh Joan tetap teguh melakukan apa yang menjadi hasratnya sampai nafasnya yang terakhir.
Ubi � Di mana?
Mengawali dengan bersekolah di Dorstadt oleh rujukan dari guru pertamanya, Aesculapius, seorang Yunani. Setelah lolos dari serangan brutal bangsa Viking di Dorstadt, Joan melarikan diri ke pertapaan di Fulda di mana ia menyamar sebagai laki-laki untuk pertama kalinya. Kemudian, setelah menghabiskan bertahun-tahun di Fulda, sebuah wabah demam nyaris membongkar penyamarannya sehingga ia kabur, dan akhirnya pergi ke Roma, menjadi tabib pribadi Paus Sergius, dan pada waktunya—ia sendiri yang diangkat menjadi Paus.
Quando � kapan?
Keseluruhan kisah berlangsung pada tahun 814 hingga 855 Masehi, yang termasuk dalam era Abad Kegelapan. Joan memerintah sebagai Paus pada tahun 853 hingga 855. Setelah Joan meninggal, Katolik Roma dibawah tulisan Anastasius menghapuskannya dari Liber pontificalis, yaitu kronik resmi seluruh Paus yang pernah ada. Empat puluh tahun setelah kematiannya, Uskup Agung Arnaldo menyalin Liber pontificalis dan menambahkan bab mengenai Joan ke dalamnya, sehingga kebenaran tidak sepenuhnya hilang.
Cur � mengapa?
Mengapa Joan sampai memilih meninggalkan identitas keperempuanannya? Karena ia punya impian, dan hasratnya terhadap impian tersebut demikian besarnya sehingga pengorbanan demi pengorbanan yang ia lakukan dirasanya setimpal. Mengapa lalu ia bisa sampai di tahta tertinggi Katolik Roma? Karena Joan mampu. Karena perempuan mampu, karena perempuan bukanlah makhluk yang bodoh dan lemah. Karena perempuan sejajar dengan laki-laki.
***
Pope Joan adalah sebuah novel yang lengkap. Sejarah, politik, perjuangan perempuan, agama, perang, cinta, pengorbanan, kemunafikan, kebrutalan manusia; semua terkandung di dalamnya. Sang pengarang, Donna Woolfolk Cross, menghimpun kisah ini dengan apik, tokoh-tokohnya terasa nyata dan emosinya dapet. Apalagi dengan alur cepat yang tidak membuat bosan. Walau di beberapa bagian emang sadis sih, terutama pas serangan bangsa Viking itu. Pope Joan versi film (2009) kurang mengesankan walaupun dari segi cast secara fisik sudah pas, setting juga bagus, tapi emosinya kurang terasa.
Salut untuk pengarang yang menyelesaikan penulisan Pope Joan setelah melakukan riset selama tujuh tahun. Salut juga untuk F.X. Dono Sunardi sang penerjemah, karena menerjemahkan karya ini sudah pasti bukan pekerjaan gampang. Puasss banget melahap lebih dari 700 halaman novel ini, karena wawasan bertambah banyak, terutama tentang sejarah, seluk-beluk kepausan di Katolik Roma, dan beberapa kalimat dalam bahasa Latin� Juga bagian Catatan dari Pengarang sungguh-sungguh membantu dalam memahami kisah.
Saran saya bagi penerbit yang hendak menerbitkan novel serupa: akan lebih nyaman kalau ada glossary di bagian belakang buku, terutama sih tentang berbagai istilah dan jabatan keagamaan yang tidak familiar bagi saya sehingga membuat saya jadi cukup bingung. Kalau sebatas catatan kaki, kan, kalau ketemu lagi dengan kata “X�, saya sudah lupa catatan kakinya ada di halaman berapa, hehehe.
Jadi, apakah Paus Joan pernah ada? Setelah membaca buku ini rasanya saya percaya kalau beliau benar-benar pernah ada. Bagaimanapun, kisahnya menginspirasi para perempuan (dan juga laki-laki) untuk tidak menyerah dan berani berkorban dalam berusaha mencapai impian.
Go for it, no matter what it takes! Empat bintang bagi kisah perempuan hebat yang nyaris terlupakan ini.
Beberapa kutipan favorit:
“Jika ingin dapat bertahan di dunia ini, kau harus bersikap lebih sabar dengan mereka yang ada di atasmu.� � hal. 179
“Sungguh aneh apa yang terjadi pada hati manusia. Orang dapat saja terus hidup selama bertahun-tahun, terbiasa kehilangan, serta berdamai dengannya, tetapi kemudian, dalam sekejap saja, rasa sakit itu muncul kembali bersama rasa pedih dan perih seperti luka yang masih baru.� � hal. 495
“Kita akan tetap berdoa seakan-akan semuanya bergantung kepada Tuhan dan terus bekerja seolah-olah segalanya tergantung pada diri kita sendiri.� � hal. 573
“Terangnya harapan yang dipantikkan oleh para perempuan tersebut hanya serupa kelap-kelip cahaya kecil di samudra kegelapan, tetapi nyalanya tidak pernah sepenuhnya padam. Kesempatan selalu ada dan tersedia bagi kaum perempuan yang cukup kuat untuk bermimpi. Pope Joan adalah kisah dari salah satu pemimpi itu.� � hal. 732.
Catatan: “Quis, quid, quomondo, ubi, quando, cur?� tidak lain adalah 5W+1H (Who, what, when, where, why, how) yang konsep awalnya dirumuskan oleh filsuf Romawi Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 SM).
@melmarian
December 28, 2007
Pope Joan has recently become one of my most favorite books. To think, I bought it months ago, and it’s sat on my shelf all that time. I guess now is the time when I needed to read the book.
Cross has done a superb job bringing the tale of Pope Joan to life in this riveting, epic page-turner. From the very first page, you become irresistibly engrossed in the captivating saga of this girl who was born into a world that limited her behavior, but could not dominate her ambitious spirit, determined to achieve something greater in life. You get a fascinating window into the darkest part of the Dark Ages in Europe, where guilt was tried by tests such as immersion in water or walking on fire, and verdicts were rendered by the party that had the most witnesses; where few people could read, and books were so precious and mysterious because they were seldom seen.
Joan’s character is quite compelling to me as someone who loves to learn. I simply can’t imagine having the thirst for knowledge that I have, and not being able to exercise it. By her own efforts as well as with the help of chance, Joan is able to teach herself Latin and Greek, step deeper into the Catholic Church by donning the identity of a man, and finally find herself elected pope! And these things she does not simply out of selfishness to lead a better life, but because she feels the overwhelming need to perfect herself and the lives of those around her. Numerous obstacles threaten to expose her, but, having come from a society that would rob her of her own will, she makes it her mission as pope to do all she can to change this.
I found Joan’s faith to be a little of a mystery. Raised by a Saxon mother who secretly worshipped the old gods, and by an over-religious Christian canon for a father, she appears as a child to live in a kind of harmony with the faiths. Later on, as an adolescent and then adult, she shows belief in God, but the book alludes to her occasional doubts. If she believes the Bible to be the Word of God, then how does she explain those New Testament verses which limit her role in society because of her sex? Her own answer is never made clear; the only part of the book where this is addressed appears to have her play devil’s advocate, and not necessarily sharing her own opinion. I see Joan as an opportunist who believes that if she has this uncontrollable will to learn and to contribute positively to society, then it is derived from God, and nothing else, not even the Holy Book, can deny her goals.
I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who enjoys reading about the strength and resourcefulness of the human spirit. I read it in about a week and a half. I simply couldn’t put it down. Then I discovered it will be made into a movie set to come out in 2009! I can’t wait.
Cross has done a superb job bringing the tale of Pope Joan to life in this riveting, epic page-turner. From the very first page, you become irresistibly engrossed in the captivating saga of this girl who was born into a world that limited her behavior, but could not dominate her ambitious spirit, determined to achieve something greater in life. You get a fascinating window into the darkest part of the Dark Ages in Europe, where guilt was tried by tests such as immersion in water or walking on fire, and verdicts were rendered by the party that had the most witnesses; where few people could read, and books were so precious and mysterious because they were seldom seen.
Joan’s character is quite compelling to me as someone who loves to learn. I simply can’t imagine having the thirst for knowledge that I have, and not being able to exercise it. By her own efforts as well as with the help of chance, Joan is able to teach herself Latin and Greek, step deeper into the Catholic Church by donning the identity of a man, and finally find herself elected pope! And these things she does not simply out of selfishness to lead a better life, but because she feels the overwhelming need to perfect herself and the lives of those around her. Numerous obstacles threaten to expose her, but, having come from a society that would rob her of her own will, she makes it her mission as pope to do all she can to change this.
I found Joan’s faith to be a little of a mystery. Raised by a Saxon mother who secretly worshipped the old gods, and by an over-religious Christian canon for a father, she appears as a child to live in a kind of harmony with the faiths. Later on, as an adolescent and then adult, she shows belief in God, but the book alludes to her occasional doubts. If she believes the Bible to be the Word of God, then how does she explain those New Testament verses which limit her role in society because of her sex? Her own answer is never made clear; the only part of the book where this is addressed appears to have her play devil’s advocate, and not necessarily sharing her own opinion. I see Joan as an opportunist who believes that if she has this uncontrollable will to learn and to contribute positively to society, then it is derived from God, and nothing else, not even the Holy Book, can deny her goals.
I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who enjoys reading about the strength and resourcefulness of the human spirit. I read it in about a week and a half. I simply couldn’t put it down. Then I discovered it will be made into a movie set to come out in 2009! I can’t wait.
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