The papacy may be the longest-lasting democratically elected position in history and supposedly a seat of great piety, but it has still seen times of greed, dirty deeds, sexual promiscuity, perversion, nepotism and the sanctioning of murder. From Rodrigo Borgia’s corruption, to the crusade against the Cathars, to the Inqusition’s imprisonment of Galileo and the controversial role of the pope during World War II, The Popes: A Dark History is a lively and illustrated account of the most unpious moments in the 1700-year history of the papacy.

Format: 285 x 213mm (11 1/4 x 8 1/2")
Extent: 256pp
Illustrations: 190 col and b/w photos, 16 col a/ws
Text: 60000 words