Witness to hope: the biography of Pope John Paul II.Witness to Hope The Biography of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for almost 27 years. by George Weigel George Weigel (Baltimore, 1951 - ) is an American Catholic author, and political and social activist. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Weigel was the Founding President of the James Madison Foundation. Harper Collins 992 pages, hardcover, $51.00 ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0 06 018793 X IT IS PART of the persona of this pope that he manages simultaneously to attract and repel, to enthral and to appal. And so too with books about him. Karol Wojtyla Noun 1. Karol Wojtyla - the first Pope born in Poland; the first Pope not born in Italy in 450 years (1920-2005) John Paul II , Bishop of Rome, heir to St. Peter is, undeniably, one of the giants of the age. Longevity in office alone would assure the man a niche in history, yet he is so much more than merely one in a considerable lineage of long-serving popes. Dramaturge dram·a·turge n. A writer or adapter of plays; a playwright. [French, from Greek dr , philosopher, athlete, romantic, poet, mystic, statesman, liberal, reactionary, John Paul II John Paul II, 1920–2005, pope (1978–2005), a Pole (b. Wadowice) named Karol Józef Wojtyła; successor of John Paul I. He was the first non-Italian pope elected since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522–23) and the first Polish and Slavic pope. , when history tallies the importance of 20th century personalities, is assured a place among the top handful of people who have left an imprint on the 1900s. The problem in authoring yet another biography of this much-biographied giant is simply: what remains to be said? By the admittedly uncharitable criteria of novelty and originality, Weigel's effort is only a qualified success. Some books on John Paul have been more riveting, others less so. As well, one wonders where the author is coming from. "Authorized" biographies, in my view, are dismissible by their very nature, being effectively ghostwritten Ghostwritten is the first novel published by the author David Mitchell. Published in 1999, it won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and was widely acclaimed. The story takes place mainly around East Asia, but also moves through Russia, Britain and the USA. autobiographies. I am uncomfortable by the length to which Weigel feels compelled to go to explain that his work is not authorized, especially when publicity material sent by the publisher includes a copy of a wishing-you-well-in-your-endeavour letter to the author by none other than the same Karol Wojtyla. Yet, if you have never read a book on John Paul II, this is a good one to begin with, if for no other reason than it is the latest, that here, John Paul achieves his dream of surviving the 20th century. If you have read biographies of the Polish Pope before ... then wait awhile before tackling another. Like all giants of history, the ultimate examination of Karol Wojtyla's life and the ultimate analysis of his importance will have to await a more distant context. History, it is trite to say, requires more of a timely perspective than Weigel has at his disposal as of this writing. 
Roshan.P.Koshy (Member): 2/2/2008 4:34 PM
i didnt have any chance to read tht biography coz all books in tht category is not free...itstrue tht Wiegel has written a book tht is like a binoculars..closer,much closer...more depth of his life written....Wiegel is now a proile writer
And ur article is worth.......... |
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