DECIPHERING THE DA VINCI CODE

The novel "The Da Vinci Code" became one of the biggest international bestsellers of recent years by blending an intricate detective story with mysteries involving the Catholic Church. Thus, while it gained a loyal following worldwide, it also generated a resounding controversy. Religious figures accused the book of being an affront to Christianity; historians complained that author Dan Brown used several inaccurate facts in developing the plot. In the midst of all this debate, readers were left unsure of what could truly be taken seriously in "The Da Vinci Code"—which, after all, is a work of fiction.