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A Thief in the Night: Life and Death in the Vatican
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A Thief in the Night: Life and Death in the Vatican Paperback - 2001

by John Cornwell

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John Cornwell uncovers in his investigation into the sudden death of Pope John Paul I on September 28, 1978, the truth of his shameful and tragic end--facts more startling than the conspiracy theories of his murder. 8 pages of photos.

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From the publisher

"A model of investigatory journalism and a small masterpiece of the genre."--Anthony Burgess

On the eve of September 28, 1978, John Paul I died unexpectedly--apparently of a heart attack--after a reign of only 33 days. But within the Vatican there were serious disagreements about the time of death, who found the body, and the true state of the Pope's health prior to his death. These arguments led to rumors of foul play and conspiracy--variously involving the KGB, the Freemasons, crooked financiers, and Vatican officials. In 1987, the Vatican invited New York Times-bestselling author John Cornwell to conduct a new, independent investigation into the true circumstances of the Pope's death. In A Thief in the Night: Life and Death in the Vatican, Cornwell tells the story of his search, including a startling theory about Pope Paul I's untimely demise--and a chilling and unprecedented look inside one of the world's oldest, most secretive institutions.

"As brilliantly written as a prize-winning mystery story."--Andrew Greeley

"Brilliant . . . this marvelous and compelling investigation has a terrible ring of truth."--The Times (London)

First line

It was dark, so dark, yet somewhere far away, deep in the night a bird was chirping.

From the rear cover

On the eve of September 28, 1978, John Paul I died unexpectedly -- apparently of a heart attack -- after a reign of only thirty-three days. But within the Vatican there were serious disagreements about the time of death, who found the body, and the true state of the Pope's health prior to his death. These arguments led to rumors of foul play and conspiracy -- variously involving the KGB, the Freemasons, crooked financiers, and Vatican officials. In 1987 the Vatican invited John Cornwell to conduct a new, independent investigation into the true circumstances of the Pope's death. In A Thief in the Night Cornwell tells the story of his search, including a startling theory about Pope Paul I's untimely demise -- and a chilling and unprecedented look inside one of the world's oldest, most secretive institutions.

Details

  • Title A Thief in the Night: Life and Death in the Vatican
  • Author John Cornwell
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 368
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Books, New York
  • Publication date 2001-05-01
  • Features Index, Maps, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780141001838 / 0141001836
  • Weight 0.82 lbs (0.37 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.25 x 5.5 x 0.92 in (20.96 x 13.97 x 2.34 cm)
  • Themes
    • Religious Orientation: Catholic
    • Religious Orientation: Christian
  • Category Religion - Church History
  • Library of Congress subjects John Paul - Death and burial, Cornwell, John
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 89036326
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

About the author

John Cornwell is in the department of history and philosophy of science at Cambridge University. He is a regular feature writer at the Sunday Times (London) and the author and editor of four books on science, including Power to Harm, on the Louisville Prozac trial, as well as Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII and Breaking Faith: Can the Catholic Church Save Itself?
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