Reply #26: It was published in 1982 and was released with a claim to

[Pacifist Patriot]

scholarship. It does make for an interesting read but their work is either easy to debunk or unable to be substantiated. Doesn't mean it is 100% fabricated but who knows what the truth is. They've taken their academic knocks for certain.

Their hypothesis is that Jesus' crucifixion was staged and he survived and fathered children. Perhaps he and Mary Magdalene escaped to France and his bloodline started the Merovingian dynasty of French kings.

It pulls in a bunch of secret societies: Prieure de Sion, Knights Templar, Freemasons...

It's been at least twenty years since I read the book but I remember the Cathar heretics were involved somehow.

Essentially the search for the holy grail is actually the search for Christ's bloodline.

San Greal = Holy Grail

Sangre Real = Royal Blood

I enjoyed the book but I honestly don't know if it should be in the religious history or fiction section of the bookstore.