A brilliant new history of the city, told through the lens of its popes.

In Rome the echoes of the past resound clearly in its palaces and monuments, and in the remains of the ancient imperial city. But another presence has dominated Rome for 2,000 years -the pope, whose actions and influence echo down the ages. In this epic tale, historian Jessica Wärnberg tells, for the first time, the story of Rome through the lens of its popes, illuminating how these remarkable (and unremarkable) men have transformed lives and played a crucial role in deciding the fate of the city.

Emerging as the anonymous leader of a marginal cult in the humblest quarters of the city, less than 300 years later the pope sat enthroned in a gilt basilica, endorsed by the emperor himself. Eventually, the Roman pontiff would supplant even the emperors, becoming the de facto ruler of Rome and pre-eminent leader of the Christian world.

Shifting elegantly between the panoramic and the personal, the spiritual and the profane, this is a fresh and often surprising take on a city, a people and an institution that is at once familiar and elusive.

"Jessica Wärnberg's book tells not only the story of these popes but that of Rome, its people and the events that affected them ... as a history of the Catholic church it is well worthwhile. Just about everything is here, from the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in 312 to the declaration of the pope's infallibility when speaking ex cathedra in 1870." - The Spectator

"The book's strength is its range, from St Peter in the first century all the way to Pope Francis today...Wärnberg is especially good on the early years, when Christianity and the papacy emerged under the shadow of a hostile imperial Rome...the story of how popes became leading actors is well told." - The Economist

"Telling the history of Rome over nearly 2,000 years through the deeds (and misdeeds) of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church is more than just a beautiful conceit. Jessica Wärnberg has written a deeply informative book that never fails to entertain" - Air Mail

"A brilliantly researched and all-encompassing history of papal Rome. I very much enjoyed reading this." - Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl

"Historian Wärnberg debuts with an insightful study of the papacy and its influence over the city of Rome. Throughout this accessible and scrupulous account, Wärnberg demonstrates how the legacy of the papacy has become inextricably linked with the city of Rome. The result is a valuable contribution to the history of both Rome and Catholicism." - Publishers Weekly

"City of Echoes will fill in the gaps of your knowledge and understanding of the history of Rome and the papacy. It will give you a fresh and better informed view of how religion can impact a city and, thereby, the world." - Premier Christianity