Dr Jessica Wärnberg
I am a historian, author, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and devoted educator, providing academic support and mentorship to fledgling historians of all backgrounds.
Researching in archives and libraries from the Vatican to Dublin and Turin, I have published groundbreaking work on how religion and politics have clashed and intertwined to shape our world. My first book ‘Between Popes, Inquisitors and Princes’ revealed how the early Jesuits collaborated with the popes, their inquisition and the crowned heads of Europe – often undercover – to fight dangerous ideas.
My second book ‘City of Echoes’ is the first ever account of how the presence of the popes has shaped Rome and its history, from the time of Saint Peter to our own day. According to Graydon Carter’s Air Mail Weekly, it is ‘a deeply informative book that never fails to entertain, unearthing facts that make The Da Vinci Code read like children’s lit.’
My writing has been published in prestigious academic journals, popular magazines such as History Today and national newspapers. I have given lectures and spoken at events and on podcasts in the U.K., North America, Italy, Spain and Belgium. I welcome invitations to write and speak about my writing and research, as well as my experiences living in Italy and working with historical documents at archives such as the Vatican Archive and archives of the Roman Inquisition.
Selected Awards:
- Rome Scholarship, British Academy
- Seventh Century Scholarship, University of St Andrews
- Study Fellowship, Society for Renaissance Studies
- Russell Trust Award, Russell Trust
Popish plots & other conspiracy theories: my latest column for History Today
This month, I contributed to History Today's 'Head to Head' feature, weighing in on whether conspiracy theories have changed the course of history. My piece discussed the persistent theory that the popes have an international power that undermines the sovereignty and values of countries across the globe, from the states of 11th century Europe [...]
New book: City of Echoes out in 2023!
Rome is a city of echoes, where the voice of the people has chimed and clashed with the words of princes, emperors, and insurgents to ring down the centuries. In this new book, I tell the story of the Romans’ longest standing figurehead and interlocutor: the pope, illuminating how his presence has transformed the [...]