Cracking the Da Vinci Code : The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind the Fiction

by Simon Cox

This is the first non-fiction companion to Dan Brown's mega-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code". Its simple A-Z format tells you everything you need to know about the facts behind the fiction, and reveals the latest theories about the secret society called the Priory of Sion and the remarkable legend of the Holy Grail. Featuring background information on all the key characters, illustrations of the symbols encoded in the paintings, further reading resources and countless 'extras' (such as revealing the in-jokes hidden in the characters' names), this is an invaluable resource for the many millions of fans of the book.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Reference, Thriller, Ebooks, Literary Criticism

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2004

About the author

Simon Cox was the founding editor-in-chief of Phenomena magazine, a U.S. based newstand publication launched in 2003. Having studied Egyptology at University College London, he went on to work as a research assistant for some of the biggest names in the alternative history game, including Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval, and David Rohl. He lives in England.

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm.... not my favorite of the tDVC-related books I've read. It's basically an encyclopedia for some of the people, characters, ideas, and places that are referred to in The Da Vinci Code.

But it feels.... not real. Maybe it's because the author of this book seems to take a completely different tone about Pierre Plantard and the Priory of Sion than the authors of the other tDVC books take. The rest say Plantard is/was a fake; Cox seems to either sound like it's 100% true, or is slightly, very slightly, hesitant/wishy-washy about it. It just seemed odd to me that all of the other books that mention PP are very "NO! NO! HOAX! HOAX! LIES!" and Cox makes the PP/PoS story sound more true. So that kind of raised some red flags for me, and I wasn't sure how much of the rest of this book to believe.

But it's also just a reference-type book, so it didn't really add anything that I either 1) didn't already know; 2) didn't get from the other tDVC books I've been reading; 3) couldn't get from the context of tDVC; 4) couldn't find on Wikipedia. It was fine to skim, but I don't think I'll keep it.

[Zechy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brain candy. Some interesting, but repetitive, historical trivia (much of which I already knew) and some rather creepy diversions into the authors beliefs about the history and future of goddess worship. Wasn't quite the mindless diversion I was looking for, but it wasn't a complete waste of time.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

20. I read this alongside The Da Vinci Code and found it to be informative and helpful. I especially loved that it included pictures of the artwork mentioned in the novel.

[Anaïs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ma foi, un ouvrage fort sympathique pour ceux qui souhaitent comprendre davantage ce qui se cache derrière le roman de Dan Brown. Le Da Vinci Code est un coup de cœur intemporel pour moi, donc c'est vraiment avec joie que je me suis lancée dans cette petite lecture d'à peine deux cents pages. Chaque sujet est traité, avec un sommaire par ordre alphabétique dans le cas où l'on souhaite seulement consulter un chapitre en particulier. Tout est passé au peigne fin, et de nombreuses références sont disponibles en fin d'ouvrage afin de nuancer encore les théories qui sont amenées. C'est prudent, concis, réfléchi et pour autant, j'ai trouvé que ce décryptage n'était pas dépourvu d'esprit critique, ce qui est encore mieux.

🔠 Pour ma part je l'ai lu du début à la fin, et si des parties ne m'étaient pas inconnues, j'ai en revanche complètement découverts certains aspects de l'histoire que j'avais globalement oublié (coucou les Mérovingiens) ! Attention, il est malgré tout à noter que l'ensemble de ce qui se trouve dans cet ouvrage n'a pas été validé par des institutions liées de près ou de loin au Da Vinci Code, c'est donc une proposition de décryptage appuyée sur des références, mais cela reste à nuancer quant à la réelle volonté de Dan Brown au travers de son texte. C'est une lecture inhabituelle pour moi, mais que j'ai bien appréciée, alors si vous êtes curieux : foncez !

[Laguardianadelibros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Después leer el código Da Vinci, la verdad que quedan muchas cosas sin resolver o poca información de ciertos temas que pasan un poco de largo. En este libro aclara muchas cosas, algunas ya las sabía de antemano por otros libros pero otras desconocía totalmente y me han sorprendido dando bastante información y detalles. La verdad no lo he leído del tirón y mi consejo, es que se lea, poco a poco ya que a veces tanta información  y datos históricos puede agobiar un poco, en mi caso me lo he tomado con calma a pesar de ser un libro de menos de doscientas páginas . Al final de libro incluye imágenes en blanco y negro de las obras mas caracteristicas de Leonardo Da Vinci. Además incluye un DVD que tengo muchas ganas de ver y que será de lo más didáctico y entretenido.

[Ocean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book I am certain, to read alongside "The Da Vinci Code", not so much on it's own. It is more or less a repetitive dictionary on the subjects of the book. I did learn some things although I think it is rather supperficial. I guess if you didn't know anything about the Templars, Jesus' story, or the Priory of Sion and/or aren't sure about what is true and what isn't in Dan Brown's novel then this is worth buying as an introduction to this subjects.

It references to some seemingly interesting books, some of which have been added to my to-read list so that's always good too.

[Katelijne De · Rating 2 out of 5]

Een blik achter de schermen werpen op feiten achter de da Vinci code lijkt op het eerste zicht een fantastische insteek voor een boek. Jammer genoeg voldoet de praktische uitvoering niet aan de verwachtingen. De alfabetisch gerangschikte hoofdstukken leiden tot een vreemde opeenvolging van onderwerpen. M.i. waren deze beter met een logische opbouw neergeschreven. Hoewel het boek wel degelijk interessante informatie bevat, verliest de schrijver zich bij sommige onderwerpen in een bijna ondoorwaadbare hoeveelheid details terwijl andere onderwerpen grotendeels onbehandeld blijven.

[Vevine Goldson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cracking the da vinchi code is not a novel,it's a book that explains what the symbols used in Brown's book is about. As you begin to read you'll find that the book is a kind of encyclopedia explaining the deep religious text and mystical sometimes spiritual symbolism of godesses psychics knights templar in europe pyramids curches etc. That which are attached to the characters and artworks in the Da vinchi code.

[A.L. Bellettiere · Rating 1 out of 5]

And here I thought this would be a straightforward reveal of what the novel was about. The thing is, Cox "provides the facts and references for the reader to assemble on their own. And after taking so long to return to Brown's writing, which I've found is not the greatest, I've realized I just don't care about the mystery that Brown is trying to throw at us.

[Carolina Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Works like a dictionary of the Da Vinci Code. I just finished reading the DVC so it was quite interesting to read more about it. It clarifies historical concepts from the book and still raises some questions about the truthfulness of the theories explored in the book. Also, the pretty extensive bibliography is useful for those who wish to dig deeper

[margarida anjos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars because I wouldn’t read this again BUT this is still a great guide for anyone who’s interested in getting to know more about the Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion, as well as about the religious story of Mary Magdalene - all the book portrays are facts, so it is great to actually be able to understand how these conspiracies work in real life.

[Ali Rehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can only enjoy this book if you want to decipher Dan Brown Da Vinci Code It is a good short guide to add to the mysteries but I am not sure if its take aides the quest or add more confusion to the readers

[David Hibberd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you wanted to know about the Da Vinci Code from A to V (Adoration of the Magi to the Vitruvian Man). Simon Cox discusses places, people real and fictional, objects, and ideas found in Dan Brown's novel. He intermixes facts and speculation in his informative look at the novel.

[Ren !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un buen libro para leerlo en conjunto con El Código da Vinci, yo literalmente hice eso, ayuda un montón a comprender mejor los términos que aparecen en el libro. Pero, no creo que este bueno como una lectura aparte.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was awesome and way too short, I could've read it for much longer as it was so interesting finding out the facts behind the fiction

[Kimmy Muntslag · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Reference" guide - not objective. Does not even mention Plantard's admission in court that all of the documents were a hoax.

[Jessicasilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Algo repetitivo da história original

[Tarjei Skille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simpelt. Hentet fra Wikipedia, og lagd et oppslagsverk med ting fra Da Vinci Koden. Forsåvidt opplysende nok, men skodd på en enkel ide om å tjene penger tror jeg. Ingen wow-forklaringer.

[Nika Belova · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent author

[Tammy Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots and lots of detail- I read The Davinci Code so long ago now I think I may have to go back and read it again!

[Elena Zavarise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ti porta in giro x il mondo mostrandoti e spiegandoti i luoghi del libro il codice da vinci . Bello

[Christophe Duchesne · Rating 5 out of 5]

En complément du da vinci code pour ceux , comme moi, qui on envie de trouver les sources d inspirations de dan Brown dans la rédaction de son roman !
Bonne lecture !
Lu à ramatuelle

[Torri Bobo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting arguments, not quite made with enough comparisons or explanations to be t that interesting but its ok.

[Eveline Kleijn · Rating 2 out of 5]

droge kost
niet echt interessant.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, I read this in LingQ. Decently interesting.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in the wake of the Da Vinci Code hysteria and claims to tell the facts behind the book. What it actually does is give a few bits of potted history about some of the works of art and buildings which feature in the Da Vinci Code, but it doesn't tell you anything new. About the most interesting aspect of the book was the meanings behind some of the characters' names, but it was fairly dry and dull reading. There was not enough for it to be a proper history, and as it was written as a glossary, reading the book straight through led to a lot of repetition. I didn't hate The Da Vinci Code, but books like this are pretty much unnecessary.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd been thinking about all the things I loved about "The DaVinci Code" lately and then just happened to stumble upon this book. Basically, it serves as a sort of encyclopedia for many of the religious. secret society, and art references made in Dan Brown's novel. I'd done my own research on a number of these things, so I knew a lot of it, but also discovered some new musings. I found it to be an interesting and informative look into religious history, which always fascinates me. A good read for those who enjoyed the book, and it was fun revisiting the novel after such a long time.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat of a dry read, but offers the polarized view of christianity to fill in blanks left in the fiction novel made by Dan Brown. It was a bit humorous to see a large institution respond so vehemently to a fiction novel.

[BarbaraK · Rating 1 out of 5]

This sucked!!!! What a waste of money. It looks like this was a report possibly written for a college class and then he published it hoping to cash in on the Dan Brown craze. It worked, I bought it. Pure Crap!!!