David Marr's explosive bestseller, now expanded and updated.
The leading Catholic in the nation and spiritual adviser to Tony Abbott,
Cardinal George Pell has played a key role in the greatest challenge to
face his church for centuries: the scandal of child sex abuse by
priests.
In The Prince, David Marr investigates the man and his career: how did
he rise through the ranks? What does he stand for? How does he wield his
authority? How much has he shaped his church and Australia? How has he
handled the scandal?
Marr reveals a cleric at ease with power and aggressive in asserting the
prerogatives of the Vatican. His account of Pell's career focuses on his
response as a man, a priest, an archbishop and prince of the church to
the scandal that has engulfed the Catholic world in the last thirty
years. This is the story of a cleric slow to see what was happening
around him; torn by the contest between his church and its victims; and
slow to realise that the Catholic Church cannot, in the end, escape
secular scrutiny.
The Prince is an arresting portrait of faith, loyalty and ambition,
set against a backdrop of terrible suffering and an ancient institution
in turmoil.
Longlisted, 2014 Walkley Book Award
'An indictment of Pell for blind, evasive, flint-hearted reactions...Has
a more devastating portrait of a "respectable", living, non-politician,
Australian public figure ever been published?' --Gerard Windsor, Sydney
Morning Herald
'An incisive discussion of the character and personality of Pell' --Jack
Waterford, Canberra Times
'Descriptively superb. This is where David Marr rivals Lytton Strachey'
--Peter Craven, Weekend Australian
'Marr makes good use of his skills as an investigative reporter as he
looks at Pell's role in the scandals and analyses the Church's struggle
to save its reputation ... This is outstanding long-form journalism.'
--Walkley Magazine, Best Non-Fiction Book of 2014
David Marr has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and
the Monthly, been editor of the National Times, a reporter for Four
Corners, presenter of ABC TV's Media Watch and now writes for the
Guardian. His books include Patrick White: A Life, The High Price of
Heaven, Dark Victory (with Marian Wilkinson) and five Quarterly Essays:
His Master's Voice, Power Trip, Political Animal, The Prince and
Faction Man.
