This book is in another league entirely. Harris manages to create a story that feels both suspenseful and intimate, and it stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
About the book
Unputdownable’ – GUARDIAN
‘Gripping’ – SUNDAY TIMES
Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 cardinals are meeting in conclave to cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election.
They are holy men. But they are ambitious. And they have rivals. Over the next 72 hours, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth. Who will it be?
My opinion & book review
When I first came across Conclave by Robert Harris, I had already seen the film. Usually I prefer to read the book before watching the movie, but this time it happened the other way around. And I have to say, while the film was fine, the book is in another league entirely. Harris manages to create a story that feels both suspenseful and intimate, and it stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
Living in Malta, Rome feels very close. As a Catholic, the setting of the book felt familiar in a way I think readers from our part of the world will understand. The Vatican, the rituals, the secrecy of the conclave… it’s a world we often see on television, but Harris takes you right inside it, behind the closed doors. I could almost hear the bells of St. Peter’s when I was reading.
What struck me most is how believable it all felt. The cardinals are not cardboard figures in red robes; they’re men with ambitions, fears, and flaws. Harris doesn’t mock the Church, but he doesn’t idealize it either. Instead, he gives us a story about power, faith, and human nature.
Compared to the film, the book has so much (much much much) more depth. Unlike the movie, which leans on visual trickery, the book evolves slowly and thoughtfully, layering politics, faith, and personal stuff with a tension that builds.
I enjoyed Conclave much more than I expected. It’s a smart, fast read that still leaves you thinking about big question about faith, about leadership, about what makes someone truly worthy. Oh my God, My Nanna shoot hear me talk now.
If you’ve only seen the film, I’d strongly recommend reading the book. It’s richer, sharper, and gives you a real sense of being inside the Sistine Chapel during one of the most secretive processes in the world. If you haven’t seen the film, just read the book. The final twist struck me harder in print than on screen. Reading it after the film felt like uncovering the roots of a story I thought I already knew, but… the book is better :-).
Book details
- ISBN: 978-1804947814
- Print length: 400 pages
- Other info: see tags below (author, location language & year of publication)
