Pope Joan

In this twelfth century historical tale, Joan, a young girl, rebels at her father’s insistence that she marry a fat, ugly oaf. Joan had come to know a young priest, Andrew, and when the time was right – and with his encouragement – they flee the town and travel backroads to various monasteries. Joan soon learns how to wrap her body to disguise her gender, and her contralto voice helps her further to fit in as a male in monasteries where she and Andrew find refuge.

While Andrew pursues the world of numbers and accounting, Joan becomes an avid student, learning to love reading and acquiring knowledge, eventually – through a string of circumstances – propelling her to higher and higher offices within the church and finally becoming the first and only female pope.

How long does Pope Joan keep her gender a secret?

Reviews

Literary Titan Review – March 3, 2025

Pope Joan, by Pablo Zaragoza, is a historical novel that tells the gripping story of a woman who defies societal norms and disguises herself as a man to rise through the ranks of the Church, ultimately becoming the Pope. Set in the brutal and unforgiving world of the ninth century, the book weaves history, myth, and speculation into a rich narrative about ambition, intelligence, and survival. Joan, born into a world that limits women to silence and servitude, refuses to accept her fate. She thirsts for knowledge, a rare and dangerous trait for a female, and her relentless pursuit of learning leads her on a path few could imagine. The book follows her struggles, victories, and the immense risks she takes to carve out a place in a world that would see her destroyed if the truth were known.

One of the things I loved about this book was how vivid and immersive the writing felt. The details of medieval life are gritty and raw. Joan’s intelligence shines through every page, and her thirst for knowledge is portrayed so powerfully that I felt her frustration every time someone tried to snuff it out. There’s a scene early on where her father, a rigid and cruel priest, beats her simply for being curious. That moment alone set the tone for the kind of world she was up against.

Another thing that stood out to me was how the novel balanced historical depth with emotional intensity. Sometimes, historical fiction can feel weighed down by facts, but this book never lets the history overpower the human heart of the story. Joan’s relationships—her forbidden love with Gerold, her conflicts with the men who underestimate her, and her silent struggle to remain hidden—kept me glued to the pages. The tension was constant. Every moment, I was bracing for the inevitable discovery of her secret, yet I couldn’t stop hoping she’d keep pulling off the impossible.

There are moments throughout the book that are very dramatic. Some of the characters, particularly the villains, left me wanting more depth to their character to understand their intensity. Joan’s father, for instance, was especially harsh, which emphasized the struggles she faced. While I understood that his role was to represent the oppressive forces of the time, I occasionally wished for a little more nuance in how those forces were portrayed. Still, the book remained engaging, and even in its most heightened moments, it never lost its emotional depth.

I’d recommend Pope Joan to anyone who loves historical fiction, particularly readers who enjoy stories of strong women defying the odds. If you’re looking for a novel that combines rich historical detail with a gripping, fast-paced story, this one is worth picking up. It’s intense. It’s emotional. And it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the final chapter.