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Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

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Book of the Week: John Julius Norwich - The Popes

Book of the Week: John Julius Norwich - The Popes: Episode 3

Factual: Life Stories

The Popes

Episode 3

John Julius Norwich - The Popes

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, John Julius Norwich - The Popes, Episode 3

Rodrigo Borgia bribed his way to the papacy, fathering at least six children on the way.

Alexander VI fathered eight children before he became Pope and owed his office to vast numbers of bribes he paid out as Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia.

Well known for his histories of Norman Sicily, Venice, the Byzantine Empire and the Mediterranean, John Julius Norwich has now turned his attention to the oldest continuing institution in the world, tracing the papal line down the centuries from St Peter himself - traditionally (though by no means historically) the first pope - to the present day. Of the 280-odd holders of the supreme office, some have unquestionably been saints; others have wallowed in unspeakable iniquity.

Irresistible to women, the father of at least six children before he became pope, Rodrigo Borgia became a byword for deviousness and corruption. Bribes helped him become pope and his notorious son Cesare helped him run the Vatican. As described by John Julius Norwich in today's episode of The Popes the Papacy of 1492 was a very different world.


Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

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John Julius Norwich reads his history tracing the papal line down the centuries

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Episode 3

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