Pope John Paul II - Softcover

Szulc, Tad

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671000470 ISBN 13: 9780671000479

Publisher: Pocket, 1996

Synopsis

Pope John Paul II is one of the pivotal figures of this century, the spiritual head of more than one billion believers and a world statesman of immense stature and influence. Yet, at the age of seventy-six and in the eighteenth year of his papacy, he remains a mystery -- theologically, politically, and personally. Now, through unprecedented access to both the Pope himself and those close to him, veteran New York Times correspondent and award-winning author Tad Szulc delivers the definitive biography of John Paul II. This strikingly intimate portrait highlights the Polishness that shapes the Pope's mysticism and pragmatism, while providing a behind-the-scenes look at the significant events of his public and private life, including:

• The inside story of the negotiations involving John Paul II, Soviet President Gorbachev, and General Jaruzelski of Poland that led to Poland's and Eastern Europe's transition from communism to democracy

• John Paul II's secret diplomacy, which resulted in the establishment of relations between the Holy See and Israel

• The never-before-told story of how the Polish communist regime helped to "make" Karol Wojtyla an archbishop, the key step on his road to the papacy.

Fascinating and thought-provoking, this biography of Pope John Paul II is vital reading not only for Roman Catholics, but for anyone interested in one of the most important figures of our time.

About this title

About the Author

Tad Szulc is a former foreign and Washington correspondent for the New York Times who has covered major news stories on four continents and is the author of eighteen books, including the landmark Fidel, a biography of Castro; Then and Now: How the World Has Changed Since World War II; and The Illusion of Peace, all of which have won Overseas Press Club Awards for the Best Book on Foreign Affairs. He is Knight of the French Order of the Legion of Honor and a recipient of Columbia University's Maria Moors Cabot Gold Medal. He lives in Washington, D.C.

From AudioFile

Born in 1920, Karol Wojtyla worked in factories and quarries while secretly studying for the priesthood in his native Poland during WWII. Historian Szulc renders a secular approach to the Pontiff's life. The solid, dry biography includes brief histories of both the Roman Catholic Church and the twentieth century. The narration is appropriately humble. Sommer's unremarkable voice and pacing support Szulc's objectivity. The production suffers from uneven recording levels on the first three sides. This problem becomes less evident on later tapes. D.W.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Pocket
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0671000470
• ISBN 13: 9780671000479
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 624