THE POPE FROM THE GHETTO

An unusual theme for historical fiction, the story of the conversion of the Jew Pierleoni to Catholicism, and of the tragedy this brought to his people; of the election of his son to be anti-pope at the time of the schism in the turbulent period of the twelfth century. Authentic material forms the basis, but the author has avoided the pitfalls of the historian, and has succeeded in producing a novel which has its own dramatic justification. Should have a wider sale than simply to Catholic readers, as it is a stirring period, little known.