DUFFY, Eamonn: Saints and Sinners.

A History of the Popes Yale University Press, 2006 (3 ed) 474 pages Church History, Papacy. This engrossing book encompasses the extraordinary history of the papacy, from its beginnings nearly two thousand years ago to the present day. In this new edition, the final chapter has been expanded to cover the last years of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI. nbsp; Praise for the earlier editions: nbsp; “[A] minor masterpiece which is everything good, popular history ought to be. . . . The most comprehensive single-volume history of the popes in print.”—John Adamson,Sunday Telegraph nbsp; “Duffy enlivens the long march through church history with anecdotes that bring the different pontiffs to life. . . .nbsp;Saints and Sinnersis a remarkable achievement.”—Piers Paul Read,The Times(London) nbsp; “Will fascinate anyone wishing to better understand the history of the Catholic Church and the forces that have shaped the role of the papacy.”—Gloria J. Tysl,Christian Centurynbsp; nbsp; "The best One Volume History of the Papacy ever written", T.F. X. Noble.