Some might say it is a court case worthy of its subject matter: impenetrable, verging on the farcical and wrapped up in the minutiae of Christian theology. Amid the appropriately neo-gothic setting of the High Court in London, two British-based writers yesterday claimed that The Da Vinci Code, the loosely historical murder mystery, plagiarises a book they published more than 20 years earlier.The two, who specialise in historical conjecture, claim that its author, Dan Brown, cannibalised their text, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, to give his book plausibility and to save himself "time and effort" in independent research.Michael Baigent, 52,and Richard Leigh, 62, also said that it was not just random facts that were "lifted" but the whole "architecture" and "theme" of their book.At the heart of the case is their theory that Christ did not die on the cross but married Mary Magdalene and had a child, starting a bloodline that was protected by the Knights Templar and hushed up by the Catholic Church.Brown's thriller is also based on the notion that Jesus married Mary, starting a family in France where their descendants continue to live.While the arguments in the case will hardly trouble historians, millions of pounds of publishing profits are at stake, as is the proposed release of the film version of The Da Vinci Code.With sales of 40 million and counting since it waspublished in 2003, the book has become an international phenomenon, generating millions of pounds of publishing and tourism spin-offs.The film, starring Tom Hanks, Sir Ian McKellen and Audrey Tautou, is due to be released in May.Brown, a devout Christian who attended the case, emphatically denies stealing from Baigent and Leigh's work and is particularly adamant that he would never suggest that Jesus was not crucified on the cross.
View: Full Article | Source: The Telegraph .
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Posted on Wednesday, March 01 - 2006
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Reference : Press-Release, Holy Grail
Vatican book on Templars' demiseThe Vatican is to publish a book which is expected to shed light on the demise of the Knights Templar, a Christian military order from the Middle Ages. The book is based on a document known as the Chinon parchment, found in the Vatican Secret Archives six years ago after years of being incorrectly filed. The document is a record of the heresy hearings of the Templars before Pope Clement V in the 14th Century. The official who found the paper says it exonerates the knights entirely. Prof ... Last charge of the Knights TemplarPatrick Barkham: The accountancy firm that looks after children's entertainers the Wiggles is not an obvious place to search for the Holy Grail, but that's where the trail led last night. It started with a simple quest - what on earth is a large advertisment headlined "The Ancient and Noble Order of The Knights Templar" doing in the Daily Telegraph? - and it led your intrepid investigator to the wilds of west London and then all the way back to the 12th century.It was around 11... 'Da Vinci chapel' filming startsOfficials have closed the Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian for a week to allow filming of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The medieval building has found new popularity because of its association with the best-selling novel. But concern has been expressed that the unprecedented interest in the chapel will be damaging unless it is strictly controlled. The chapel's trustees said protection of the site was always under review. Agreement for the use of the location has been agreed between the truste... Lincoln, England - the new Jerusalem ?Dan Green: No serious catalogue of world mysteries would be complete without the inclusion of the historical Knights Templar, the Order of warrior monks who may be the guardians of a secret location containing the Holy Grail, a term that has now moved away from being simply a dish from the Last Supper to, instead, a secret that could expose deliberate religious and political cover-ups throughout history...the search for this truth rather like seeking out a needle in a historical haystack.. The K... How to explain the GrailAnthony North: The Holy Grail is an enduring mystery. However, it is often difficult to define just what it is. Traditionally, it is thought to be the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper, but its meaning has gone far beyond this physical artifact. Rather, it is often seen as symbolic of enlightenment in the mind. It is the quest for the mystical experience, and a connection with the God-head. By connecting, you reach a state of purity. Many myths have gathered around the grail.: Typical are th... New ‘Last Supper’ theory crashes Web sitesA new theory that Leonardo’s “Last Supper” might hide within it a depiction of Christ blessing the bread and wine has triggered so much interest that Web sites connected to the picture have crashed. The famous fresco is already the focus of mythical speculation after author Dan Brown based his “The Da Vinci Code” book around the painting, arguingin the novel that Jesus married his follower, Mary Magdelene, and fathered a child. Now Slavisa Pesci, an information technologist and amateur scholar, ... Archaeologist sparks hunt for Holy GrailAn archaeologist has sparked a Da Vinci Code-style hunt for the Holy Grail after claiming ancient records show it is buried under a 6th century church in Rome. The cup - said to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper - is the focus of countless legends and has been sought for centuries. Alfredo Barbagallo, an Italian archaeologist, claims that it is buried in a chapel-like room underneath the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, one of the seven churches which Christian pilgrims used to v... Jesus in Scotland and the Gospel of the Grail© copyright 1996 - 2002 Barry Dunford The Holy Land of Scotland: Is it conceivable that two thousand years ago Jesus and members of His family came to ancient Caledonia, now Scotland. This extraordinary possibility is examined in detail by Scottish based author Barry Dunford, after having extensively researched this fascinating and intriguing scenario. This book reveals that there has been a monumental historical cover up surrounding ... Opus Dei complains over BBC dramaControversial Catholic group Opus Dei has complained to the BBC about what it says is a "defamatory" portrayal in primetime drama Waking The Dead. Two episodes of the crime series, shown last weekend, featured devotees of the religious organisation embroiled in a gruesome double murder. Opus Dei said the BBC broke religious guidelines by showing its members as "murderers, thieves and adulterers". The BBC said it had not yet received an official complaint. Opus Dei was formed ... The Knights TemplarsThe Knights Templars were the earliest founders of the military orders, and are the type on which the others are modelled. They are marked in history (1) by their humble beginning, (2) by their marvellous growth, and (3) by their tragic end. Their Humble Beginning : Immediately after the deliverance of Jerusalem, the Crusaders, considering their vow fulfilled, returned in a body to their homes. The defense of this precarious conquest, surrounded as it was by Mohammedan neighbo...
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Vatican book on Templars' demise
Last charge of the Knights Templar
'Da Vinci chapel' filming starts
How to explain the Grail
New ‘Last Supper’ theory crashes Web sites
Jesus in Scotland and the Gospel of the Grail
Opus Dei complains over BBC drama
The Knights Templars