When I was researching for my history doctorate in Italy, several years ago, I came across some very interesting documents in the archives of an obscure religious order, and in the Vatican. Over the next few years there was an explosion of interest in the phenomenon of paedophile priests, and the Catholic church tried to shrug it off as a new occurrence, exacerbated by media hype and a compensation culture. But the documents proved that there was nothing new about the child-abusing priest, and the recent opening of the Inquisition archive offered a further opportunity to investigate. This book shows how the patron saint of Catholic education himself was implicated, and how covering-up scandal has always been the top priority for the church.

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"...a harrowing tale of child abuse and heresy in the 17th Century Catholic Church...." "As racy and full of machinations as Name of the Rose. Fallen Order is meticulously researched and beautifully written..." "A compelling gothic tale in which evil triumphs over virtue." Read more Reviews

Fallen Order was published in the UK in May 2004, and has received considerable press coverage.

Fallen Order is also available in hardcover:

BUY US edition Hardback, 336 pages Grove Press (9 Sept 2004) ISBN: 0802117848 Indicative price: £16.32 List price: $24.00

BUY Italian edition

BUY UK edition Hardback, 384 pages Atlantic Books (2 May 2004) ISBN: 1843540738 Indicative price: £11.89 RRP: £16.99