Saturday, February 19, 2005
The Da Vinci Code on trial
The "trial" is being held in Vinci, Italy, and an opening statement was made by Alessandro Vezzosi, director of a Leonardo Da Vinci museum, on Friday.
"Leonardo is misrepresented and belittled," he said beforehand.
No-one will represent the book but many fans are expected to attend. The book has sold 7.5 million copies worldwide.
Many readers assume the story, linking Da Vinci with a secret society that has held the secret of the Holy Grail for centuries, is completely true.
'Absurd'
Author Dan Brown has said: "All of the art, architecture, secret rituals, secret societies, all of that is historical fact."
But the book has sparked heated debate among historians, many of whom have dismissed Mr Brown's version of events and his central claim that Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail is their bloodline.
The "trial" is taking place at the Palazzina Uzielli in Vinci, near Florence, Da Vinci's hometown. The town's vicar, Monsignor Renato Bellini, said the book gave an inaccurate view of Catholic society Opus Dei.
"This book depicts the movement as a mysterious centre of political and economic power that tries to hide the historical truth on Jesus and Magdalene, which is absurd," he said.
'Misunderstood genius'
A representative of Opus Dei would take part in the mock tribunal, he added.
Mr Vezzosi, director of the Museo Ideale Leonardo Da Vinci in the town, said he would produce documents and photographs to prove many of the claims about the legendary artist were false.
"His importance is misunderstood, he was a man full of fantasy, inventions and genius," he said.
As well as the original novel, published in 2003, another 10 books have been written to debunk its claims and a booming tourist industry has sprung up around its sites in France and the UK.
Hmm, neat idea. Of course it can not claim to be a real trial without a defense team. By the way, Dan Brown's genius is in taking a rather thin adventure story and using to cloak a non-fiction conspiracy novel. It doesn't hurt that he has made Opus Dei squeal.
Nota Bene. I have noticed that one of my standard writing foibiles is the use of the phrase "of course".
