A thoughtful, well-written and entertaining discussion of the often speculative background to Dan Brown's best-selling novel. The intriguing backdrop to the The Da Vinci Code has proved even more interesting to many than the modern thriller that plays out against a canvas of history, interpretations of archaeological findings, ancient documents discovered in the Middle East, and speculations about the life and relationships of Jesus Christ. This fascinating book offers the questing mind an opportunity to look behind the story at the unfolding possibilities of its compelling background. Dan Brown's book would hardly have caused such a stir were readers not already questioning some of the dogma of their own belief systems. The author has written several books on a variety of subjects and is the former head of a university Department of English and the retired director of its publishing division.