The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code

by Sharan Newman

Book Overview

Millions have been enthralled by The Da Vinci Code's fascinating historical speculations-and the blockbuster novel's audience has also made bestsellers of several books offering to separate the facts... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425200124
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

An Amusing Tonic for Dan Brown's awful, The DaVinci Code

The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code by Sharan Newman is a good reference to refute the stupidity that is the novel, The DaVinci Code. Newman, who is working on a Phd in Medieval studies, wrote the book in response to friends, acquaintances, and co-workers asking her if this or that in The DaVinci Code was true. What started out as a pamphlet became a full fledged reference. Unlike most books refuting The DaVinci Code, Sharan's book, takes everything Dan Brown makes reference to, be it historical, religious, or artistic and gives the reader a definition and, most importantly, the facts. In short and to the point chapters we learn about Leonardo DaVinci, Rosslyn Chapel, the Knights Templar, Opus Dei, etc. And as an added bonus you get the facts done with humor. And, unlike many authors, good and bad, who approach Dan Brown's non-existant research from a theological point of view, author Newman approach is historical and cultural. If I found anything negative in The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code by Sharan Newman it would be her lack of balance in describing the current practices of the organization, Opus Dei. She seems to base much of what she tells us on information received from ODAN, an organization oppossed to Opus Dei practices and recruitment. This book is the best of the books refuting the so-called facts made reference to by Dan Brown in his book The DaVinci Code.

Reveals historical truths behind common myths

Readers of The Da Vinci Code who want more to contemplate will benefit from medieval scholar Sharan Newman's special expertise in The Real History Behind The Da Vinci Code: a guide which asks questions and reveals historical truths behind common myths. From the conspiracy to downplay the human and sexual sides of Jesus to the workings of the Opus Dei Awareness Network, or ODAN, The Real History Behind The Da Vinci Code probes many religious questions from the original bestseller.

Brilliant! The truth behind the bestseller at last...

Life is unfair. Sharan Newman is a far far better writer than Dan Brown, and is someone who really does her historical homework properly. But who is the international megaseller? Dan Brown.... However, if, like me, you are someone who loves the past, and wants to know what REALLY happened in your fiction, Sharan Newman beats Dan Brown any time. This wonderful book shows why - it reveals the truth behind all the sad a-historical nonesense in the Brown book. I suspect my fellow Christians will, like me, dissent from Newman on some theological issues - her theological grasp does not, alas, match her historical knowledge - but on all issues of medieval and more recent histoy, Newman is 101% on the money and well worth reading. Give this to any friend who has been taken in by the Da Vinci Code and I am sure that they will never look at that novel in the same light again. (Let's hope they also become readers of Sharan Newman's wonderful medieval mysteries as well....) Christopher Catherwood, Cambridge UK and Richmond VA based historian (and author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ: Carroll and Graf)

A Superb DVC Companion, For Fans and Foes Alike

I read "The Da Vinci Code" eagerly, just after its release. I was disappointed, however, when the book turned out to be little more than astute repackaging of the intriguing but generally bogus material from "Holy Blood, Holy Grail." My disappointment turned to dismay when I realized how many people--including critics I assume are paid to know better--were accepting Brown's claims to historical accuracy and legitimate research. Newman is not trying to comment on Brown's work so much as she is carefully, and one might even say lovingly, presenting a more accurate picture of the fascinating historical issues Brown touches on. She rightly points out that presenting pseudo-history as fact is nothing new. Geoffrey of Monmouth, for example, claimed his proto-Arthurian material was historical truth. So, with a keen sense of humor and a real talent for distillation, Newman gives us a collection of readable and reliable factoids. At the end of each short section she also includes excellent recommendations for further reading. Newman's book is a superb companion piece that should serve as both a relief to secular critics of "The Da Vinci Code" and as a source of additional, engaging information for Brown's legions of fans.

"After reading "The Da Vinci Code" you must read this...!"

"The Real History Behind The Da Vinci Code", by Sharan Newman, New York, Berkley Books, 2005 - ISBN 0-425-20012-4, pbk, 337 pp., authored by a medievalist teacher & novelist who provides an alphabetized commentary upon 70 distinct peoples, places, events, symbolisms and physical things discussed in Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code". Newman strives to separate truths from the fabrications and, if feasible, facts from the legends but warns us her book is a 'companion' to the aforementioned. "The Da Vinci Code" has an abstruse amount of fascinating literal chronicaled details within the text of a fictional novel and this makes it nearly impossible or at least a most challenging and difficult task to reconcile veracity between fabricated or legendary data with unpolluted materiality. In her book she points out errors and improbabilities in "The Da Vinci Code" but additionally clarifies and gives colloquy or discourse on legendary and factual material and provides a substantial list of books for Recommended Reading with footnotes to source material. Newman gives an authoritative commentary on the people, places and times referenced in "The Da Vinci Code" in an illuminating and affirmative fashion. The author's speciality of medieval research gives life and sheds considerable truths and a lot of understanding to the intrigues, trivia and extraordinary events chronicaled in Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code" (which I'm told is to be made into a movie). Sharan's book has worthy inveiglements as inclusion of modest number of old medieval prints, etc., and the author's occasional whimsical sense of humor is appealing. I was disappointed not to find an index of the 70 alphabetized subjects nor a listing of the illustrations. Being alphabetized the book can be read in any order desired and has excellent material readily accessed. Its potent!