Pope Joan by Lawrence Durrell

Pope Joan by Lawrence Durrell

Pope Joan traces the remarkable history of a young woman who, according to tradition, travelled across Europe in the ninth century disguised as a monk, acquired great learning and ruled over Christendom for two years as Pope John VIII before dying in childbirth.

On the books first publication in Athens in 1886, it created a sensation; it was banned and its author excommunicated. The work became nevertheless soon established itself securely in Greek literature. Subsequently Durrell, with his adaptation, created a masterpiece in its own right. Translated and adapted from the Greek of Emmanuel Royidis