The Da Vinci Code

Since it first hit bookstore shelves, it has inspired controversy and made headlines. Now with a major motion picture release only days away, the debate has been refreshed and people are once again hearing about (or, perhaps more accurately, hearing MORE about) Dan Brown’s bestselling The Da Vinci Code.

The second novel featuring Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, this story begins with a murder that leads to a series of clues and through a labyrinth of history, art and religion in a race to save lives and find the ultimate prize. An ambiguous description of the book, yes, but I would rather you read it for yourself.

Over the past few years, most people have heard about this book and have formed an opinion one way or another. What is often forgotten by many people – both those who enjoy the book and those who are vehemently opposed to it (and intriguingly, the media) – is that it is a fictional novel. And, as is the fact with almost all fictional books, the author has taken some liberties with the facts. Note that word: fictional.

Much of the furor over The Da Vinci Code is centered on the fact that the story revolves around the idea that Jesus Christ fathered children with Mary Magdalene. As this concept flies in the face of many people’s deeply held personal beliefs, the entire book is condemned. Likewise, many individuals who are interested in alternative versions of history or are conspiracy theorists want to believe some of the ideas presented in this story and thus accept many of Brown’s statements as fact.

Both groups of individuals should consider The Da Vinci Code again in this light: it is a fictional novel filled with highly unlikely events and action sequences. The characters are all intelligent, rich and/or beautiful. Things go right for them when the narrative demands it and things go wrong when it furthers the plot.

It is a novel.

If we lived in a more rational world where people thought things through before simply over-reacting, both groups could even consider the book a boon to their point of view because it is exposing a large readership to their ideas.

Brown lifted a great deal of the material that constitutes the underpinnings of his novel from Holy Blood, Holy Grail. You may have seen/heard/read something about the court case. If you haven't read this "nonfiction" book, you may want to do so. It is an interesting read, but the authors make a few staggering leaps of logic that make the book less a book of history than a book of conjecture. Since the "factual" basis for The Da Vinci Code is seriously flawed, I find it difficult to understand the hubbub and furor surrounding this novel.

In any case, the movie adaptation of The Da Vinci Code will soon be in theatres. Anyone even remotely considering going to see this film should get their copy of the book and read it prior to buying their popcorn.