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To Kidnap a Pope
- Napoleon and Pius VII
- Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
- Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins
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Publisher's summary
A groundbreaking account of Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII, and the kidnapping that would forever divide church and state.
In the wake of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, and Pope Pius VII shared a common goal: to reconcile the church with the state. But while they were able to work together initially, formalizing an agreement in 1801, relations between them rapidly deteriorated. In 1809, Napoleon ordered the Pope's arrest.
Ambrogio Caiani provides a pioneering account of the tempestuous relationship between the emperor and his most unyielding opponent. Drawing on original findings in the Vatican and other European archives, Caiani uncovers the nature of Catholic resistance against Napoleon's empire; charts Napoleon's approach to Papal power; and reveals how the emperor attempted to subjugate the church to his vision of modernity. Gripping and vivid, this book shows the struggle for supremacy between two great individuals - and sheds new light on the conflict that would shape relations between the Catholic church and the modern state for centuries to come.
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The Magna Carta is celebrated as one of the most important documents in human history. It is the main source of constitutional law around the world, promising people liberties and protection from the arbitrary power of the government. If you want to discover the captivating history of the Magna Carta, buy this book today.
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Great fun for all ages!
- By Robert S Johnson on 07-14-20
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The Templars
- The Secret History Revealed
- By: Barbara Frale
- Narrated by: Kate Udall
- Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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At its height, the Order of the Knights Templar rivaled the kingdoms of Europe in military might, economic power, and political influence. For 700 years the tragic demise of this society of warrior-monks amid accusations of heresy has been plagued by controversy, in part because the transcript of their trial by the Inquisition - which held the key to the truth - had vanished.Templar historian Barbara Frale happened to be studying a document at the Vatican Secret Archives when she suddenly realized that it was none other than the long-lost transcript!
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A note to the narrator
- By Douglas Bryenldson on 01-13-21
By: Barbara Frale
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Our First Revolution
- The Remarkable British Upheaval That Inspired America's Founding Fathers (Unabr.)
- By: Michael Barone
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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The ideals of freedom and individual rights that inspired America's Founding Fathers did not spring from a vacuum. Along with many other defining principles of our national character, they can be traced directly back to one of the most pivotal events in British history: the late-17th-century uprising known as the Glorious Revolution.
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Excellent Recap of a Forgotten Event
- By rollcall40 on 01-02-08
By: Michael Barone
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Ravenna
- Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe
- By: Judith Herrin
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 19 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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At the end of the fourth century, as the power of Rome faded and Constantinople became the seat of empire, a new capital city was rising in the West. Here, in Ravenna on the coast of Italy, Arian Goths and Catholic Romans competed to produce an unrivaled concentration of buildings and astonishing mosaics. For three centuries, the city attracted scholars, lawyers, craftsmen, and religious luminaries, becoming a true cultural and political capital.
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Worthy book, stingy production.
- By Stephen Chakwin on 12-13-20
By: Judith Herrin
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A New World Begins
- The History of the French Revolution
- By: Jeremy D. Popkin
- Narrated by: Pete Cross, Jeremy D. Popkin
- Length: 21 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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The principles of the French Revolution remain the only possible basis for a just society - even if, after more than 200 years, they are more contested than ever before. In A New World Begins, Jeremy D. Popkin offers a riveting account of the revolution that puts the listener in the thick of the debates and the violence that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a new society.
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Narration
- By Kindle Customer on 04-26-22
By: Jeremy D. Popkin
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Vanished Kingdoms
- The Rise and Fall of States and Nations
- By: Norman Davies
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 30 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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There is something profoundly romantic about lost civilizations. Davies peers through the cracks in the mainstream accounts of modern-day states to dazzle us with extraordinary stories of barely remembered pasts, and of the traces they left behind. This is Norman Davies at his best: sweeping narrative history packed with unexpected insights. Vanished Kingdoms will appeal to all fans of unconventional and thought-provoking history, from listeners of Niall Ferguson to Jared Diamond.
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needs a good editor.
- By Ryan Anderson on 09-25-21
By: Norman Davies
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Heretics and Believers
- A History of the English Reformation
- By: Peter Marshall
- Narrated by: Napoleon Ryan
- Length: 35 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Centuries on, what the Reformation was and what it accomplished remain deeply contentious. Peter Marshall's sweeping new history argues that 16th-century England was a society neither desperate for nor allergic to change, but one open to ideas of "reform" in various competing guises. This engaging history reveals what was really at stake in the overthrow of Catholic culture and the reshaping of the English Church.
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A heavy read but well worth it.
- By chemtrooper on 12-02-18
By: Peter Marshall
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Thomas Cromwell
- A Revolutionary Life
- By: Diarmaid MacCulloch
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 26 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Since the 16th century we have been fascinated by Henry VIII and the man who stood beside him, guiding him, enriching him, and enduring the king's insatiable appetites and violent outbursts until Henry ordered his beheading in July 1540. After a decade of sleuthing in the royal archives, Diarmaid MacCulloch has emerged with a tantalizing new understanding of Henry's mercurial chief minister, the inscrutable and utterly compelling Thomas Cromwell.
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Not about the Tudors
- By J.Brock on 09-18-19
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The Bad Popes
- By: E.R. Chamberlin
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The papal tiara has been worn by a number of infamous men through the course of its history. Some have been accused of murder, many have had mistresses, while others sold positions in the church to their followers or gave land and wealth to their illegitimate children. E. R. Chamberlin examines the lives of eight of the most controversial popes, from the reign of Pope Stephen VI, who had his predecessor exhumed, put on trial and thrown in the Tiber, in the ninth century, through to Pope Clement VII, whose failed international policy led to the Sack of Rome in 1527.
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Complete trash.
- By George on 07-16-21
By: E.R. Chamberlin
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A History of Iran
- Empire of the Mind
- By: Michael Axworthy
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Although frequently vilified, Iran is a nation of great intellectual variety and depth, and one of the oldest continuing civilizations in the world. Its political impact has been tremendous, not only on its neighbors in the Middle East but also throughout the world. From the time of the prophet Zoroaster, to the powerful ancient Persian Empires, to the revolution of 1979, the hostage crisis, and the current standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Michael Axworthy vividly depicts the nation’s rich history.
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Lazy Narration
- By Arya Pourtabatabaie on 11-05-16
By: Michael Axworthy
What listeners say about To Kidnap a Pope
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- ReviewAmazon384
- 08-18-21
Good story, stupid conclusions by author
This book is worth listening to despite the authors occasional personal philosophizing, which is always off. For the most part, the authors simply presents historical facts in a compelling narrative. The book reads like a novel, but is also clearly the product of series original research. The title is misleading. The book covers the whole papacy of Pius VII and the whole rule of Napoleon through his death on St. Helena. The actual kidnapping is only a small part of the book. The book also covers briefly the papacy of Pius VI and the French revolution. That the title was misleading is a mark in favor of this book, for me.
The author's personal interpretation of events is naive and betrays his ignorance of theology and political philosophy. He is a liberal and constantly insists that it was "unfair" for 19th century Catholics and historians to portray Napoleon as anti-Catholic or a foreshadowing of anti-Christ since, after all, Napoleon didn't want to get rid of the Church and though religion was good! Napoleon merely wanted to subordinate religion to the state and make it useful by closing down monasteries and contemplative life! The pope meanwhile was reactionary and couldn't recognize the need to modernize.
Here, I've paraphrased the content of basically all of the places where the author gives his own interpretation of events. Luckily such interpretations are rare enough that they don't make the book unbearable. The author fails to realize that subordinating the Church to the state, making the Church "useful" by destroying contemplative life, and treating all religions as equal IS anti-Catholic even if these things are done in the name of "saving the Catholic Church" or "reforming" it or whatever else. Moreover, although the author's history is itself a powerful demonstration of why the Church has, for over a millennia, insisted on the need for the pope to have temporal sovereignty to avoid being controlled in spiritual matters by secular rulers, the author himself doesn't notice what his own book demonstrates. The author continually acts as if the popes insistence on temporal sovereignty was a personal hangup or reactionary sentiment.
One revealing story from the book is Napoleon's instructions to those who were sent to convince the pope to concede to Napoleon. Napoleon is supposedly the representative of "reason" and "enlightenment" as opposed to the "dark ages," but he instructed the negotiators to not try to use reason with Pius VII since he'd only answer their arguments. Instead, he instructed them to apply psychological torture, misinformation, and appeal to emotional blackmail.
Despite the shortcomings, this book is well-worth the read. The picture that emerges is that of a truly saintly pope who withstood a form of martyrdom far more challenging than being thrown to the lions, and who may even, in the very end, have saved his own persecutor's soul through prayer and forgiveness.
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- 2451
- 05-27-21
History...So Interesting and Entertaining!!!!
I have a library of 4,374 books. I’ve listened to hundreds of truly great books, but for whatever reasons, I’ve never provided a review.
This is a Great Book. I recommend it as one of my best. I envy you, in that you still have this to purchase, and lean and enjoy.
Don’t pass this one up
Just Get It !!!!
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- Christie
- 05-15-23
Fascinating work
Deeply interesting work about the kidnapping of a Pope! Great details and easy to listen too. I was worried at first after the sample that the reader would be difficult ti listen to, but it did not turn out to be a problem and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book.
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