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The Da Vinci Code (2003) is a novel by Dan Brown.

Abstract

The largest bestseller of the decade draws on Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982 Baigent/Leigh/Lincoln), arch-fi, to claim the existence of a "royal" descendance of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu flee the French authorities in an attempt to learn the secrets of Sophie's family and the true location of the Holy Grail, which is defined not as a chalice or a dish but rather as the tomb of Mary Magdalene where hidden Gospels reveal the truth of the life of Jesus.

The novel begins with the murder of Jacques Sauniere, a famed art curator, at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. As he dies a slow death, he is determined to commit one final act—an act which lead the police to suspect Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon of the crime. Contorting his body to match that of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Vitruvian Man, Sauniere writes below his body a series of puzzles, including the Fibonnaci sequence and an anagram describing one of Da Vinci's most famous works. More importantly, however, he includes a note to his granddaughter, cryptologist Sophie Neveu: find Robert Langdon. Mistaking this note for a clue which could lead to the killer, Captain Bezu Fache of the police is determined to arrest Langdon for the crime. However, knowing of his innocence, Sophie helps him escape and together they discover that Jacques' clues hide something much more important than a murderer's name. As Sauniere's secrets are revealed, it becomes apparent that he was a part of the legendary Priory of Sion, a secret society sworn to protect the location of the Holy Grail. Robert and Sophie are not the only ones seeking the grail, either. Silas, the true murderer of Sauniere, seeks the Grail for a Catholic branch known as Opus Dei. This branch is described as controversial at best, often because of its outstanding power and questionable practices such as corporal mortification. Presumably, they mean to destroy the Grail once they find it in order to preserve the Catholic Church. Silas is allied with Bishop Aringarosa of Opus Dei, and both are directed by a mysterious man known only as the Teacher. As Robert and Sophie solve Sauniere's riddles, anagrams, and symbolic references to find the Grail's location, the Teacher is constantly giving Silas and Aringarosa directions on how to proceed with their own search for the Grail. Though these directions are not meant to include violence, events often get out of hand. While searching for further clues and the location of the Grail itself, Robert and Sophie are still on the run from the authorities. Sometimes they are allied by friends such as Leigh Teabing or banker Vernet, but often they are forced to take illegal action in order to continue their quest. The three major parties—the French police, Opus Dei, and the Priory of Sion—collide once Sophie and Langdon, along with Captain Fache, discover the true identity of the Teacher as well as the true identity of Sophie Neveu. -- Allison Hawkins, University of Michigan

Editions

Published in New York, NY: 2003.

Translations

Translated into all major languages.

• 達文西密碼 (2004 Brown / You), novel (Chinese ed.)

• Kodi da Vinçi = The Da Vinci Code (2004 @2003 Brown / Jorgoni), novel (Albanian ed.)

External links

• Wikipedia