Book Recommendations
Conclave
By Robert Harris
Fiction, General, Historical, Literary, Religious, Thrillers, Suspense, Political, Christian | 484 pages
1 recommendation
The Pope is dead.
Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and twenty Cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election.
They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals.
Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth.
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Veronica Allan
"Robert Harris is no stranger to Rome and Ancient Roman history as the setting for his riveting trilogy of novels based on the diaries of Cicero. In Conclave he departs from ancient times and writes an account of 72 hours in modern Rome during a Conclave - the election of a new Pope.
As a tourist in Rome it is impossible to stroll through the Vatican, in particular the vast expanse in front of St Peter’s Basilica, without craning your neck to see the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. In reality a special flue is installed each time a Conclave is held to elect a pope, to ensure that the smoke can be seen by the crowds below.
Harris’s fictional conclave describes in minute detail the rules and routines that must be followed by the cardinals while they are sequestered within the Vatican City, until a two-thirds majority is reached. Intrigue doesn’t begin to describe the goings-on behind the scenes, and as you read you’ll wonder how many real-life conclaves have been so hotly contested with such tension! Harris has a surprising, and perhaps shocking ending to his!
Rome is a must-see for tourists in Europe; from all over the world it has an allure, not only for Catholics, but for anyone with even a passing interest in ancient history. After reading Conclave you will look up to the roof of the Sistine Chapel with new eyes!"
As a tourist in Rome it is impossible to stroll through the Vatican, in particular the vast expanse in front of St Peter’s Basilica, without craning your neck to see the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. In reality a special flue is installed each time a Conclave is held to elect a pope, to ensure that the smoke can be seen by the crowds below.
Harris’s fictional conclave describes in minute detail the rules and routines that must be followed by the cardinals while they are sequestered within the Vatican City, until a two-thirds majority is reached. Intrigue doesn’t begin to describe the goings-on behind the scenes, and as you read you’ll wonder how many real-life conclaves have been so hotly contested with such tension! Harris has a surprising, and perhaps shocking ending to his!
Rome is a must-see for tourists in Europe; from all over the world it has an allure, not only for Catholics, but for anyone with even a passing interest in ancient history. After reading Conclave you will look up to the roof of the Sistine Chapel with new eyes!"
