When I read it in the 80s, I swear it was called “Holy Blood, Holy Grail”. But all the reports about the plagiarism / Da Vinci Code trial refer to it as “The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail”. Was there a title change somewhere?
According to this – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_blood%2C_holy_grail – it was originally titled The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, but retitled for release in the U.S. (doesn’t say why).
Both the original British edition and the original American edition were published in 1982, with the British title being “The holy blood and the Holy Grail” and the American title being “Holy Blood, Holy Grail”. I can only speculate as to why, but perhaps the American publishers wanted a slightly more catchy title.
Holy Cannoli would have caught my attention. Plus it’s vaguely Italian, like the birthplace of all conspiracies.
Thanks, all. Fascinating, this publishing business.
Of course, if I’d just waited a few minutes for this news release to come out, my question would’ve been answered.