The Professor and the Parson

The Professor and the Parson cover
Good Books rating 3.83
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Technical
  • ID: 2826
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781782835301
  • Publisher: Profile Books
  • Published: 2019-05-03
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In 1958, renowned historian Hugh Trevor-Roper received a peculiar letter that led him to meet Robert Parkin Peters, a man with a trail of lies, bigamy, and academic fraud stretching across continents. Peters' life was a whirlwind of deception, driven not by greed but by an insatiable desire for prestige. His antics included multiple marriages, FBI investigations, and even a disastrous appearance on Mastermind. /n/nBased on Trevor-Roper's own detailed records, The Professor and the Parson is a witty and charming account of Peters' extraordinary narcissism and eccentricity, painting a picture of a life as wild and unlikely as any work of fiction.

Reviews
Cannonball Read · Kimmie · 2021-06-05
entertaining 3.00

The book is entertaining with subtle humor, though it leans more towards the Parson than the Professor. The reviewer finds it a solid read but feels it could have been more concise.

Kimmie finds the book to be highly entertaining, especially with its subtle humor that adds spice to the reading. They appreciate the focus on the Parson's story, which they find more engaging than the Professor's. However, they feel the book could have been more concise and that some events are recorded ad nauseam without adding much depth. Overall, they rate it as a solid 3-star effort, indicating it's a good read but not exceptional.


Quick quotes

    The book is not without subtle humor which adds spice to the reading.

    Highly entertaining, though the balance skews far more Parson than Professor, possibly bc ...

    Maybe it wouldn't be a 5-star book, but I'd expect a solid 3-star effort.

The Guardian · 2019-05-19
engaging 4.00

The book is a gripping read that delves into the rise and fall of Trevor-Roper as much as it does into the deeply unpleasant priest. It offers a compelling narrative that keeps the reader engaged.

This review highlights the book's ability to weave a gripping narrative around the lives of two complex characters. The reviewer appreciates how the book provides insight into Trevor-Roper's rise and fall, as well as the unsettling nature of the priest. They find the story compelling and well-told, making it a captivating read. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to balance the dual narratives effectively, though they might have preferred more depth in certain areas.


Quick quotes

    The book is a gripping read, telling us as much about the rise and fall of Trevor-Roper as about its deeply unpleasant priest.

    A story of desire, deceit and defrocking.

    How an unlikely Casanova and blacklisted clergyman conned his way around the world.

History Today · 2019-05-05
captivating 4.50

The interwoven lives of the two men are presented in a witty and captivating manner. The reviewer found the book so engaging that they devoured it quickly.

This reviewer is impressed by the witty and captivating way the book interweaves the lives of the two main characters. They highlight the book's readability and how it kept them engaged from start to finish. The reviewer found the narrative so compelling that they read it quickly, indicating a high level of enjoyment and interest. They appreciate the depth and detail provided, making it a standout read.


Quick quotes

    The interwoven lives of these two men is the subject of Adam Sisman's witty, impressive and captivatingly readable (I devoured it over the ...

    A story of desire, deceit and defrocking.

    How an unlikely Casanova and blacklisted clergyman conned his way around the world.