I think this book a very good book. The story is about two kids who find a tree house that takes them places. For instance to the Titanic or in this case The Reolutionary War. One part I enjoyed reading was how Jack and Annie sneaked on to George Washington boat and listend to his plot. This book is a series. But if you have some free time I suggest you read this wonderful book. This book had no part where I ever wanted to put it down. I really hope you have time to read this book.

It is a dark and snowy night when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to colonial times. General George Washington is about to lead his army in a sneak attack against their enemy. But now the terrible weather is making the great general question his plans. Can Jack and Annie keep history on track? The fate of the country rests in their hands!

Don't miss Revolutionary War On Wednesday.

Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne

This book is about two kids named Jack and Annie and a magic tree house. In this book they go to the Revolutionary War and see George Washington.

I liked this book because they rode on the Delaware River with George Washington. And, they told George Washington to go on a stormy night.

I think the author was trying to teach to participate in things. She also was also trying to teach us to be willing to do things.

I have found this series very disappointing overall. The premise is great-- kids travelling through books to fascinating places and times. But the plots and language are so simple and the characters so undeveloped that I can't get my child (or myself) motivated to finish the books. Well-written non-fiction on the same topics would be not only more informative but more engaging.

This series is an interesting mix of fiction & nonfiction. Each book takes the characters (siblings Jack & Annie) to another place and/or time to get a clue to solve a mystery or challenge. The mysteries come in 4 book units, so this box set gives one full story unit. Our kids didn't really get that involved in the 'mystery' aspect, in part because we were getting them mostly from the library, which never seemed to have all 4 of a given mystery group. What they enjoyed was that it was a good easy chapter book, with many subjects or topics that were interesting to them.

I would agree with the reviewer who complained about the standard of writing- it's not great- and would add that if your child is particularly well-versed in a topic in one of the books they are likely to find that they know more than is presented in the story. I would put these squarely at 1st grade level... The Boxcar children are regularly threatened by rather sinister types, and because the stories are seen to be more current, it can seem more frightening than something that is clearly happening in another time- Pharoic Egypt, dinosaurs, etc.).

The Magic Tree House books are wonderful for early elementary kids. My first and second graders love for me to read these books aloud. They are simple and uncomplicated with short chapters which could cause them to be a bit boring for older kids. Each book has Jack and Annie magically going to another time and place by wishing on a book left in the tree house. This series (I have #1-24) have really turned some of my non-readers onto reading.

I enjoyed the book Adaline, Falling Star. I cheered her on in her determination to get past her prejudice relatives and find her father. At times the book was amusing, especially when she was with Dog. If you like Native American culture you will enjoy reading Falling Star's story. Adaline's religion is a mix of the Great Spirit and the Holy Spirit. Overall you should enjoy reading this exciting, easy to read novel by Mary Pope Osborn.

I enjoyed reading Adaline Falling star. I thought it was an interesting, easy to read book. I liked how Adaline's religion was a mix of the Great Spirit and the Holy Spirit. Falling Star is a very determined girl who wants to find her father. I thought it was at times an amusing story especially when Adaline was with Dog.It truly was a good book!

Um...Like I said, I really loved this book. This is the first time I've read a book on the journey of a young Arapaho girl and a dog she met on the way. I believe Falling Star is a hero. This book is meant to be about the real life and views of the real Adaline/Falling Star. She is the daughter of an Arapaho mother and a White Man called Kit Carson. Since her mother died, Falling Star is forced to live with her cruel ignorant cousin while her father goes on an expedition. Before Falling Star's father leaves, they exchange promises that he'll come back and that Falling Star will stay and wait for him. As soon as he leaves, Falling Star is treated badly by her cousin's family, forcing Falling Star to act mute so that she will not speak to them. She is treated as a slave and not a student, like her father wished. Falling Star obediently waits for her father to come back, and then one day, she is told that he is in New Mexico and mentioned nothing of his daughter to anyone during his expedition. Falling Star feels betrayed. Was her father ashamed of his half red daughter? This news causes Falling Star to run away from her cousins and down the Mississipi River to find her Arapaho people. Just when she was just about to give up, Falling Star is saved by an ugly mongrel. At first, she tries to leave the dog, but finds already that the mongrel has already slipped into her heart. Together, Falling Star and her dog start their journey to find her people and her father who left her. The theme of this story is about promises, wether they are said or not. The promise in this story is to never leave your loved one, whatever the consequences. I really enjoyed this book and the journey that Falling Star and her dog go through together flying through tough times with the spirit of the Holy Spirit and the Great Spirit of the Arapaho and the Catholic Religion. I loved this book and I admire the heroic spirit of Adaline Falling Star.

. . .but marred in places by the author's political viewpoint.

"Conclave" is a well-written and informative book about exactly "how" the Catholic Church will go about selecting the new Pope upon the passing of Pope John Paul II. The author, a Rome-based journalist, has already been selected by Fox News as their correspondent and "expert" when the time comes. Especially helpful is the "step-by-step" description of what happens in the Vatican from the moment the Pope dies straight through his Coronation Mass. Also helpful is the information concerning the various "political parties" within the College of Cardinals and useful biographies of those Cardinals whom the author sees as papabile (those for whom election is possible).

Less helpful, and indeed off-putting, was the author's obvious bias toward the left wing of the Catholic hierarchy. This is seen, not only in his direct comments, but also in his subtle ridicule of conservative Cardinals. This ridicule is usually effected by the relating of "humorous" anecdotes which serve to make conservative Cardinals look silly. The more a Cardinal is portrayed as a moderate or liberal, the less likely the ridicule.

Other than this bit of childishness, the book is a valuable tool. But the conservative or traditionalist reader will have (many) moments of (great) annoyance.

Three stars.

CONCLAVE is a well written analysis of the processes surrounding the inevitable passing of Pope John Paul II. It also contains a brief, yet cogent outline (albeit somewhat "left of center") of the issues which will play a role in the selection of the next pope.

The author, John Allen, is a veteran reporter and Vatican correspondent who brings a depth and breadth of knowledge in identifying the key players and issues which will loom over the next papal election. Issues include collegiality and authority within the church, sexuality and bioethics, the roles of women and laity, doctrine and social justice. Key players include many relatively well-known cardinals already in the inner circle as well as others who have emerged into the spotlight in recent years. Mr. Allen offers a fascinating description of the various political factions or "parties" within the College of Cardinals.

The book also describes in clear detail, the rituals and procedures for the entire process from the death of the Pope to the conclave culminating in the election and installation of the new Pontiff. While detailed in its explanations, the book is surprisingly easy to read, yet never stoops to a level of superficiality despite its breezy style. The brief biographies of the cardinals are also helpful, although I would have expected to see several other names in the list of probably contenders.

The election of a new Pope will obviously have a great impact on the lives of the One Billion or so Catholics around the world. The selection of a new Holy Father however, will also have a much more far-reaching impact on the rest of us than we may realize. Not only does the Pope have a great influence on world affairs but as the Catholic Church opens more and more dialogue with other Christian and indeed non-Christian faiths the selection of the next Pontiff is of supreme importance. It is for those reasons, and my deep respect for the Catholic faith that I decided to read this book.

I am very happy to say that John Allen has written a book that will not only be informative to life-long Catholics but also to Methodists like myself. He very clearly enunciates the differences that exist within the College of Cardinals on all sorts of issues, both spiritual and temporal. He also leads his readers through the side issues that may also decide the conclave's choice. As examples, many within the Church apparently would like to see a third world Pope, there is little chance that John Paul's successor will be from Eastern Europe, and because of John Paul's long tenure there is little chance that the next Pope will be young. That thought had never crossed my mind but apparently many of the Cardinals are not fond of long reigns.

The best part of this book however, was the section dealing with the details of how a new Pope is elected. Allen takes his readers on a step by step journey through the process, from the Pope's death until his successor is elected and he accepts the job. It is a fascinating process and Allen does a tremendous job making it understandable and highly easy to read. There is even a glossary at the back of the book to help the reader keep up with some of the titles and terms used in the book. Thanks to John Allen I now know just what a Cardinal is, and that knowledge alone was well worth the price of the book.

After reading John Cornwell's libelous "Hitler's Pope," I sought a neutral and dispassionate history of the Church during World War II. This book does not provide what I sought. It is clearly an apologetic for Pope Pius XII, the Curia, and all things Roman Catholic. Professor Marchione is, after all, also Sister Margherita.

There are ditches on both sides of most roads. It is just as possible to fall into one ditch, as it is to fall into the other. Whereas Cornwell fell into the ditch of vilifying an holy and decent man, Marchione falls into the other, seemingly canonizing the late Pontiff well before the Vatican has concluded that (inevitable?) action. Dr. Marchione's commitment to her faith and her passion for this cause, out-shine her scholarship.

Nevertheless, this is a scholarly book in which Professor Marchione goes far to prove her points that the Holy Father was not silent in the face of the Holocaust, was not cowered by Hitler, and acted decisely to save hundreds of thousands of intended victims of the Third Reich. The end notes, annotated bibliography, appendices, documents, and indices take up approximately 1/3 of the book. Dr. Marchione's scholarly documentation, alone, makes this book worth reading. Her appeal to the original source documents handily refutes the arguments of Cornwell, Hochhuth, and others, who attempt to drag the good name of the Holy Father through the mud of innuendo and lies.

To counter the argument that the Pope kept silence during the Holocaust, Sister Margherita presents to us the encyclicals "Mit Brennender Sorge," and "Summi Pontificatus," as well as the thirty-three wartime messages which directly addressed the issue. To counter the argument that the Vatican did nothing to save the Jews, or others, hunted by the Nazis, she tells us of the thousands hidden in the old Roman ruins under the Papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, and the hundreds of thousands hidden in churches, monasteries, and convents throughout Europe with the knowledge and approval of the Holy See. Then, just to make her point, she introduces us to Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, who converted to Christianity after the war, taking the Pope's first name as his own.

This is not a neutral, dispassionate history. Still, unlike some of what has been written lately about Pope Pius XII, it is fair. It is well documented. It is well written, and it is worth reading.

"This Christmas, more than ever, the Pope is a lonely voice crying out in the silence of a continent." --New York Times editorial, Dec. 25, 1942.

"Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing the truth." --Albert Einstein in Time magazine, Dec. 23, 1940.

"The Pope is virtually accusing the German people of injustice toward the Jews and makes himself the mouthpiece of Jewish war criminals." --Reaction of SS leader Reinhard Heydich to Pius XII's Christmas message of 1942.

If these words don't fit with what you've heard lately about Pius XII, this book will be an eye-opener. Marchione has compiled numerous references from journals, statesmen, ambassadors, and both Catholic and Jewish historians which refute recent claims that the Pope presiding during World War II was silent in the face of Nazi atrocities. She portrays instead a man who used his authority to render aid and alleviate the sufferings of all Hitler's victims.

While her defense is passionate, she avoids the criticism of bias by basing her statements on the abundance of documents that she brings to bear on the subject. In fact, the book is worth having for the footnotes and bibliography alone. At times touching--as this citation from Jeno Levai, Jewish Hungarian historian: "In the autumn of 1944 there was practically no Catholic Church institution in Budapest where persecuted Jews did not find refuge."*--and at times stunning--as this from Pinchas Lapide, Israeli Consul General in Milan: "The Catholic Church, under the pontificate of Pius XII, was instrumental in saving as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands."** --the book is a good read as well as a good reference.

One weakness of the book to my mind is its cursory treatment of the Concordat made between Germany and the Vatican in 1933. As this political agreement is a point of controversy among those who interest themselves in Jewish-Catholic relations, I think it deserved more prime time.

In addition to the numerous footnotes and annotated bibliography, the book contains over 100 pages of selected documents from the Vatican Archives. The two essays by Graham and Blet, both editors of the Vatican archival documents relating to the war, are persuasive and powerful.

The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Isaac Herzog, declared in 1945 that "The people of Israel will never forget what His Holiness and his illustrious delegates ... are doing for our unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our history...." Why should we read this book? So that we will never forget.

*Hungarian Jewry and the Papacy **Three Popes and the Jews

You PAPAL SIN and HITLER'S POPE types better run for it, because Sr. Marchione really lets loose on those who would defame Ven. Pius XII in this book. This book is a very accurate account of Pius XII's actions during World War II, as well as the world's reaction to his proceedings at the time. References to the many praises of Pius XII's activity immediately following his death coming from many peoples of many cultures (including many prominent Jews) are littered throughout the book. There is also an account of his defamation, beginning with the publication of THE DEPUTY. A great read for anyone interested in Church history during World War II.

This is one of the most important books I have read in my life to assist me in sorting out my agreements with Ayn Rand and disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church .... however, where Ayn finds lost hope in humanity, Morris finds the flight of the phoenix. I highly recommend ..... read this book twenty two years ago ... still remember it well enough to sign on and re-order it .... i want two copies ...one for myself and one to replace the copies I've had on hand to give away to people important to me. Open your minds.

Whenever I need a spiritual uplift or a re-affirmation of my Christian faith, I read this book. Nearly 20 years after its first publication it is still one of the most powerful and truthful stories ever written, but that should not be surprising given the fact that the Truth it tells is eternal. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was how it made the Pope a real-life human being, sort of like the current one, not a cold, regal icon not to be seen, touched or felt. The deep scholarly approach to the literature of the Church was also very appealing. An excellent work in any event, thoughtful and with a good, well-paced action line, this is more importantly a tender story of how easily and unknowingly we can lose our sight in the face of overwhelming truth. The answer is usually right in front of us if we will only open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to it.

I have enjoyed Morris West since high school...I just recently embarked on "Clowns" and was highly impressed with the high level of prophetic understanding that West possesses. It ranks with "The Jesuit" in it's impact to uncover the the first layer of the onion regarding the vatican beaurocracy and the provedential intervention of the Almighty into the affairs of men. I have often thought that if Jesus were to walk into twentieth century life....no one would recoginize him. I am not surprised at the reviews about this book...a prophet is without honor in his own country. Bless you Mr. West for being first rate.

I've not been particularly versed in the arguments between the papal detractors and the papal apologists, so this book was a good introduction to issues that arise in this argument. Madrid has done his research and often does a wonderful job of examining the bible, and how it relates directly to the papacy today. He takes pains to show how, even though the word Pope is never used in the Bible, the concept that began with Peter is valid through the ages.

At the same time, the book is often frustrating. Madrid charges his opponents with lies begot from splitting hairs and interpretations. But often to defend the Papacy, he must resort to the same splitting of hairs for his cause. Sometimes the counter arguments border on "well yes, it is true, but that misses the point which is..." In his final chapter on the role of Pius XII and the Jews in World War II, while he makes some very good points and brings up facts that I was not aware of, shows the shortcoming of this book. The charges and rebuttals are almost too well chosen and written, so when he refutes the myths, he keeps his scope so narrow on the text of the misconception that sometimes his writing addresses the specifics without looking at the general argument. While a gross simplification - some of his arguments hinge on interpretations that are reminiscent of Clinton's denial of a relationship with Monica Lewinsky - cutting on semantics.

Some of his rebuttals are extremely well written and certainly put to lie the charges as being false. But I wish he had kept to those, instead of some of the responses that required more narrow focus and verbal gymnastics. Still, and excellent resource on this topic.

I can't say "thank you" enough to Patrick Madrid. I hope he reads this review someday, just so he can finally hear my appreciation. This book is so desperately needed...

If you've done any reading of authors like Boettner (*Roman Catholicism*), or more recently, Dave Hunt (*A Woman Rides the Beast*), or if you've interacted with "well-read" Protestants who know a little Catholic History, then you may have heard most of the myths in this book...

Did you know Pope Honorius taught heresy and was officially condemned by a council for his teaching?

Did you know Pope Pius was on Hitler's side during the war?

Did you know Peter was never even in Rome?

These arguments and 27 more are examined, and then addressed by Madrid. Why is this book so invaluable? Because some of us can defend the Catholic Church on issues of theology. Some of us know the bible and the Church Fathers well enough to spot bad theology or bad philosophy. But not many of us know our Church history too well. And you can sit and argue the meaning of "You are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church" all day long, but when your opponent pulls some devastating historical fact out of his hat, you're in trouble.

"Don't tell me the Pope is infallible, Pope Liberius signed a document promulgating the Arian heresy, a heresy that was later condemned by the Council of Nicea!"

He may even throw a few dates in there. Now you're really in trouble. Why? Because this isn't in the bible. It's not in the theological treatises of the Fathers. It's in Church History, and if you're not a historian, it can be hard to even know where to start looking for answers.

Madrid has done all the homework for you. He answers the myths (and yes, they are myths), gives places and names and dates, and provides historical documents in his citations so you can do some brush-up reading later.

Don't be stumped by someone who once heard a rumor, attached a few ancient dates, places, and names, and then called it "history." Get this book, and help put an end to the myths.

I use this book as a reference all the time... I hear the myth about Pope Honorius, and I think, "I've heard that name before... let's see... yep! Here it is!" Thanks to Madrid's book, I've got the information at my fingertips, and I can help set the story straight.

I couldn't put it down. Each chapter begins with a commonly heard proposition that claims to refute the Catholic position on the papacy -- the primacy of Peter and its consequent teaching authority of the office. The remainder of the chapter is a refutation of the particular "pope fiction." The book does not shy away from addressing some of the more "sticky" situations that the Church has found itself in due to poor decisions of certain pontiffs: Honorius and the monothelites, Sixtus and the Vulgate. The history is accurate enough in its detail to illustrate the Catholic position without getting bogged down. On occaision the author does point out that certain un-Christian behavior, like burning heretics, was not the exclusive domain of the Catholic Church, yet maintains the intellectual honesty not to use that fact as "evidence" in his argument. This one should be read by both Catholics and Protestants, perhaps it will provide a basis for informed discussion on the papacy.

This is the hardest kind of review to write, I find. The first of the Dudley Pope "Ramage" series is not bad as an adventure-at-sea novel, but it is not great either. It is fun, but not amazingly exciting. Pope is knowledgable, but heavy-handed. So the book rates 3 stars.

First some background. I have read the Horatio Hornblower & Aubrey/Maturin series, as well as a couple books by Kent, "Two Years Before the Mast", and scattered other bits of nautical lore and adventure. I enjoy the genre as a whole. Thus at a friend's suggestion I picked up "Ramage".

The action in this book can get pretty heavy, but often to the point of strained credulity. As this is a historical novel, I don't really expect to see sections that strike me as "What an AMAZING bit of luck!" every 20-30 pages, but that does happen here. Ramage begins his career (at least as far as the book is concerned) by coming back to consciousness after being knocked about by an explosion. Luckily he has not noticable concussion... He is the only officer left on board his ship. Luckily he can find the captain's secret orders... Luckily they directly involve skills he has... And somehow he is able to convince his heavily battered crew that he is NOT abandoning them by leaving the ship in the ship's boats. This is only the opening sequence, so I am not giving much away here.

His adventures take a much more believable turn on land and the pace really picks up; unfortunately things drag later during a courtmartial scene. I want to get involved with the adventures and the excitement, but I keep thinking, "How much blind luck can one fellow have?"

Another disappointing aspect of the book revolves around the nautical lore. It is always tricky as to how much to include in a given book and how to present it. Patrick O'Brian was the great master of being able to spoon bits of knowledge of sailing vessels to his audience without making it seem like a long lecture. Unfortunately Pope is much more heavy-handed in his approach. When he wants to explain something about the management of ships, he very obviously places a non-naval person in the scene and then proceeds to have Ramage give a mini-lecture. This is not only clunky in execution, it becomes woefully predictable. The only time this didn't happen, Ramage thought all the steps out in his head, sort of like a Shakespearean soliloquy on naval maneuvers.

Ramage himself is a rather nice character, with some little quirks, an interesting background, and rather too much luck. Gianna, his lady love, is a standard head strong young woman who comes to love the hero. Jackson, Ramage's American sidekick, is also rather nice, but a little too Johnny-on-the-spot, as if all he is at times is an extension of Ramage's luck.

Pope knows the period very well. He knows the sea, the commanders, the action, and the politics. As this was his freshman effort I have every hope that the later books become less heavy-handed. In the end "Ramage" is not a bad book, but it is not a great book of the genre either.

This was Pope's first novel (of ultimately nearly 20) about Lord Ramage, a character who seems based [like O'Brien's Lucky Jack Aubrey] somewhat on the real Lord Cochran. It gets off to a hurtling start as Ramage comes to in the midst of total chaos, on a sinking ship littered with dead and wounded, and is told he's in command. He completes the mission his sunk ship was on, to rescue some Italian nobles, and meets the Great Love of his life, the georgeous Gianna. Back at the base, he's court-martialled and it looks grim... but the novel switches from courtroom drama to another rousing naval operation as Ramage rescues the officers and crew of a wrecked British Navy ship. If you entered Age-of-Sail fiction by way of O'Brien, this will be pretty thin gruel, but it is pretty much up to the Forester/Kent/Woodman/ Lambdin mark, and quite enjoyable. I was certainly motivated by reading it to eventually read the other novels in the Ramage series.

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Review of the Ramage series of novels:

This is first of a series of nine books. All of these are fictional novels based on British Admiralty records of the Napoleonic era. Written in the best tradition of Forester and O'Brien, these books will capture our imagination. And if you haven't read the Hornblower series by Forester, or the Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brien, try them also. All of these are excellent books that you will treasure and reread. I particularly like these books by Pope. I recommend that you buy them all at once and read them in order. You will be glad you did.

If you enjoy reading accurate descriptions of naval maneuvers in the age of sail, or simply a good adventure yarn, Dudley Pope delivers. Pope conveys how the best of the best, handle emergency situations. He portrays these situations with realism and authenticity.

Review of this book:

In this novel, Ramage awakes after receiving an injury in battle to find himself in command of the rapidly sinking Sibella. The pace is fast and furious as he struggles to complete the Sibella's mission and save his crew. As any Captain who has lost his ship, this book concludes with Ramage facing a daunting courts martial board with the deck stacked against him.

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Conrad B. Senior

I checked this book out for a young reader in my life - she tried it (about 30 pages), said "ugh," and handed it to me. We're both fans of mermaids and fairy tales and selkies and so on... so I gave it a shot. (I'm 28).

This book was in the young adult section at the library... and the whole time I was reading it I felt like Mary Pope Osbourne was dying to write a mermaid bodice ripper, but didn't want to upset her magic treehouse fans. The book had the elements of a fairy tale with the feel of a harlequin romance thrown in. (She only alludes to sex, but it feels forced or restrained - just not right).

I didn't give a poop what happened to the lord and his lady by the end... it was boring and silly, and I am astonished it has received so many good reviews here on amazon. I'd love to read the original story it's based on (and plan to). I have a feeling there might have been a lot more to work with that Osborne didn't bother to bring to the page.

Go read Hans Christian Anderson or a book on sea-lore instead.

The horrible paperback cover says enough in itself. The hardback (which I read, was much spookier looking).

It's a spooky story that captures the essence of a German Fairy Tale. The book is based on a mystery that surrounds a beautiful maiden named Undine. It's told from the perspective of the main hero, Lord Huldbrand.Over-all, the story is fast-pased. I was rather sad that it wasn't any longer. If you love sea stories and fairy tale-based fantisy, this is the book for you! Great read for young and old adults!

Isn't it great when a book really grabs you and knocks you off your feet? I was so sorry to come to the end. A hauntingly beautiful fairy tale for older readers. The love of Lord Huldbrand (spelling!) for Undine is powerful to begin with and it is fascinating to watch this love turn to suspicion to fear and even to loathing. The mysterious, mystical elements of the book are particularly well written. It's spooky without being scary. I am a Storyteller who loves folklore, mythology, and fairy tales. I am now searching Amazon.com for similar books. (Anyone out there have any suggestions?) This is just a very powerful work that is extremely well written. I'm not doing as good a job as I'd hoped in praising it (these reviews are tough to write, which makes me appreciate a well-written book even more!) so buy a copy for yourself and enjoy, I know you will.

BREAKING FAITH is an interesting book by an author who generated quite a bit of controversy with his recent book on Pius XII.

While many of his positions are not in line with the officials teachings of the church and its authorities, Mr. Cornwell succeeds in outlining key points of controversy among Catholics. While many critics would characterize the author as anti-Catholic, it is difficult to ignore the issues confronting the roman catholic church today. Whether you label yourself as a conservative, a progressive, even a surviving member of liberation theology, the book is valuable in presenting a point of view held not only by Mr. Cornwell, but by many members of the church.

The Crisis of Hierarchy

John Cornwell's new book, BREAKING FAITH, juxtaposes the author's deep, personal, and moral concerns with the policies of the Vatican and Pope John Paul II's backward-looking position. Exploring step by step such burning issues as sexuality, marriage, the role of women, and the frozen hierarchical structure of, the Catholic Church, Cornwell's book demonstrates the need for institutional change. Like HITLER'S POPE, calling attention to the autocratic rule and tragic misjudgment of Pope Pius XII, BREAKING FAITH reveals that beyond any doubt, beyond any counter-argument, beyond, and even despite of, any mystical consideration, the Church must react to what has become its moral crisis. Using powerful arguments, the narration reveals how human greed, power-hunger, self-importance, self-righteousness, and fear of modernity have amalgamated with ancient convictions, perceptions, and rituals of the divine, and how this mixture of religious practice and doctrine has been preserved, acted upon, and reinforced by those in power over the years.

The sweeping force of Cornwell's arguments also draws from the author's use of aesthetic shaping. Just like HITLER'S POPE, BRAKING FAITH reveals a literary structure that is rare in the world of contemporary historical investigations. Its underlying compositional element is a complex polyphonic interweaving of such distinctly diverging strains as the personal-vulnerable, the large spiritual issues of the tradition, and some of the gnawing moral concerns of our time. Such polyphonic treatment underlies also the chapter structures of the volume. Arriving at the incinerator of the monastery almost at the end of the book and thus evoking the fires of the Inquisition, the narration counteracts our expectation of the forward moving motion of history. Since the image of fire and ashes also recalls the Holocaust, the text evokes both the recent and distant past, the shadows of which seem to still fall on the Catholic Church. Also, with the penultimate chapter carrying the title of "Returning," the narration reiterates, and thereby culminates in, the issue of "strict hierarchy," which, as Cornwell argues, is the cause for the crisis that must be dealt with if the Church is to survive. Echoing this theme throughout, the narration enacts symbol and intellectual argument with equal urgency.

BREAKING FAITH is a major study, shedding light on the Church's conflict between past and future.

Cornwell has eloquently described both his own journey through faith and the current state of the Cathlic Church. He had the courage to leave the church as a young man, when he genuinely believed that his faith was making him a narrow and loveless person. In middle age, he rediscovered his religion and became a returning Catholic. In the intervening years he has become increasingly alarmed at the defections and divisions within his Church. Most of all he is dismayed by the growing divisions within Catholicism which could lead to schism, especially in the United States. What is the answer? Cornwell argues that the whole Church must return to a state of genuine love: agape, the imperative to love one's neighbour as one self which is the only underpinning for a genuinely pluralist world. This is a timely book which should be read by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Religion has its dark face, as well as its beautiful face. This book reveals the mechanisms which make religion antagonistic and violent. REad it.