Laurence Gardner's historical detective story on the suppressed archives of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and their hidden lineage first began in his 1996 worldwide bestseller Bloodline of the Holy Grail. Since then, these controversial themes have been taken up in the world of fiction with the bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code, triggering a new and heated debate about the mysterious life of Mary Magdalene.

From the Dark Ages, through medieval times and the Renaissance era, down to the present day, Mary Magdalene has been among the most painted and sculpted of all classical figures. In fact, the oldest of all Christian paintings outside the catacombs of Rome is not of Jesus or his mother, but of Mary Magdalene. Artists and chroniclers have adored her, and churches have been consecrated to her. But for all that, she has been constantly vilified by the Christian religious establishment.

In the New Testament Gospels, Mary is given as Jesus' companion, his financial sponsor, and a woman that he loved. Church doctrine, however, claims her to have been a sinful harlot, albeit a repentant sinner who was finally admitted to the sainthood as late as 1969.

With over 50 colour plates, The Magdalene Legacy follows the life of Mary Magdalene as it has been portrayed in academic literature and the world of fine art. The book also investigates why so many of Mary's pictorial depictions are of non-biblical events ­ on board a ship, holding a Grail, preaching to crowds, and pregnant or with a child.

From his privileged access to centuries of suppressed Templar, Vatican and monastic archives, Laurence presents documented evidence of Mary's true identity and marriage to Jesus, her connection to the Knights Templars, the inside story on the mysterious Priory of Sion, and the real relationship between the Magdalene and the Holy

In these respects, we find evidence of Magdalene passages deleted from the original Gospels before they were approved for New Testament inclusion in the 4th century. Additionally, much is learned from other Gospels and texts that were omitted entirely from the canonical selection ­ accounts that specifically refer to Mary Magdalene as Jesus' consort, along with monastic references to her being his wife. The story that emerges is an explosive account of Mary's exile from Judaea under threat arrest, and the documented persecution of her heirs by a succession of Roman emperors.

Why are these things not written in the Bible? Many of them are ­ they are simply not taught or discussed in a mainstream environment. The Magdalene Legacy, however, goes far beyond the controversies stirred up by the fictional world of The Da Vinci Code to reveal a dramatic series of events that rock the very foundations of hybrid 'churchianity'.

Published in February 2005 by HarperCollins (Thorsons Element imprint), ISBN: 0007200846, the UK hardback edition is available at:

Amazon.co.uk

The Magdalene Legacy

UK paperback edition, ISBN 0007200854, available at:

North American hardback published in September 2005 by Barnes & Noble, ISBN: 0760775966, available at:

The Magdalene Legacy: The Jesus and Mary Bloodline Conspiracy

North American softback published in March 2007 by Weiser Books, ISBN: 1578634032, available at:

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