A gripping philosophical clash between Pope Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis.
Anthony McCarten Books
Anthony McCarten is an acclaimed novelist whose debut earned international praise, followed by subsequent works that have garnered critical recognition and wide translation. Beyond his novels, McCarten is also a celebrated playwright with internationally produced works, demonstrating remarkable versatility across literary and dramatic forms. His career is further marked by successful adaptations of his own stories into feature films, showcasing a multifaceted artistic vision. He excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across different mediums.







Darkest Hour. How Churchill brought us back from the brink
- 316 pages
- 12 hours of reading
From the acclaimed novelist and screenwriter of The Theory of Everything comes a revisionist look at the period immediately following Winston Churchill’s ascendancy to Prime Minister—soon to be a major motion picture starring Gary Oldman. May 1940. Britain is at war, Winston Churchill has unexpectedly been promoted to Prime Minister, the horrors of Blitzkreig witness one western European Democracy fall after another in rapid succession. Facing this horror, with pen in hand and typist-secretary at the ready, Churchill wonders what words could capture the public mood when the invasion of Britain seems mere hours away. It is this fascinating period that Anthony McCarten captures in this deeply researched and wonderfully written new book, The Darkest Hour. A day-by-day (and often hour-by-hour) narrative of this crucial moment in history provides a revisionist look at Churchill—a man plagued by doubt through those turbulent weeks—but who emerged having made himself into the iconic, lionized figure we remember.
Darkest Hour
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
I learned things from the script I didn't know. I just thought, Can that be right? Were we that perilously close? And so it just grabbed me. Gary Oldman
On 28 February 2013, a 600-year-old tradition was shattered: the conservative Pope Benedict XVI made a startling announcement. He would resign. Reeling from the news, the College of Cardinals rushed to Rome to congregate in the Sistine Chapel to pick his successor. Their unlikely choice? Francis, the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, a one…
"Ten Americans have been carefully selected to Beta test a ground-breaking piece of spyware. Pioneered by tech-wunderkind Cy Baxter in collaboration with the CIA, FUSION can track anyone on earth. But does it work? Each participant is given two hours to 'Go Zero' - to go off-grid and disappear - and then thirty days to elude the highly sophisticated Capture Teams sent to find them. Any Zero that beats FUSION will receive $3 million. If Cy's system prevails, he wins a $90 billion-dollar government contract to revolutionize surveillance forever. For one contestant, an unassuming Boston librarian named Kaitlyn Day, the stakes are far higher than money, and her reasons for entering the test more personal than anyone imagines. Kaitlyn needs to win as badly as Cy needs to realize his own ambitions. They have no choice but to finish the game and when the timer hits zero, there will only be one winner..."--Provided by publisher
Death of a Superhero
- 247 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Donald Delpe is a troubled teenager. Not only is he a "terrible teen" by default - as obsessed with sex, music, videogames and drugs as the rest of his gang - be he is also suffering from a lifetreatening form of leukemia, which makes him an even more difficult boy, both for his partens and his teachers. Escaping into his own comic-book realm of immortal superheroes, ruthless villains and sex-crazed vamps, he repeatedly dashes his family's hopes by refusing to fight the battles facing him in the real world. As famous psychologist Dr King is brought in to help, a glimmer of hope is rekindled. But will the doctor break the rules, betray the parents' trust and risk everything to help Donald achieve his greatest wish? Or will Donald be the one to save the doctor?
Short of money, the inventor Thomas Edison is captivated by the charismatic figure of J.P. Morgan, the 'world's banker'. Accepting Morgan's offer of almost unlimited cash in return for helping the man change the way the world does business, Edison sees himself descend from being a godlike inventor to becoming complicit in the invention of the electric chair. Ever more enmeshed in Morgan's personal life, he becomes infatuated by a world of privilege and power, where duty and desire, faith and immorality are thrown into conflict, ultimately threatening his own spiritual and creative survival.
POPE
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Chronicles the events behind the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis, tracing the lives of both men and discussing the consequences of having two living popes in residence at the Vatican
The Two Popes. Film Tie-In
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
In February 2013, the arch-conservative Pope Benedict XVI made a startling announcement: he would resign, making him the first pope to willingly vacate his office in over 700 years. Reeling from the news, the College of Cardinals rushed to Rome to congregate in the Sistine Chapel to pick his successor. Their unlikely choice? Francis, the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, a onetime tango club bouncer, a passionate soccer fan, a man with the common touch. Why did Benedict walk away at the height of power, knowing his successor might be someone whose views might undo his legacy? How did Francis - who used to ride the bus to work back in his native Buenos Aires - adjust to life as leader to a billion followers? If, as the Church teaches, the pope is infallible, how can two living popes who disagree on almost everything both be right? Having immersed himself in these men's lives to write the screenplay for the upcoming motion picture The Two Popes, Anthony McCarten masterfully weaves their stories into one gripping narrative. From Benedict and Francis's formative experiences in war-torn Germany and Argentina to the sexual abuse scandal that continues to rock the Church to its foundations to the intrigue and the occasional comedy of life in the Vatican, The Two Popes glitters with the darker and the lighter details of one of the world's most opaque but significant institutions
Warren and Bill
Gates, Buffett, and the Friendship That Changed the World
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
The book explores the remarkable friendship between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, highlighting its significance as one of history's most impactful relationships. It delves into the dynamics of their bond, showcasing how their collaboration and mutual respect have influenced their personal and professional lives. This account promises insights that will resonate with readers, especially with the additional context of an upcoming play and film adaptation.