With regards to the Da Vinci code there was an interesting program on channel 4 hosted by Tony Robinson about the various 'truth' behind the book. Apparently it's also out on DVD.
Summary the Priory of Ccion and a lot of related detail was based on a hoax by three french people including a bored eccentric marquis, the fact it's a hoax has been well known for over 20 years. Many people including the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail don't believe them.
The program ended with the following line from Tony Robinson which I quote from memory (so may be in accurate):
"Personally I don't think The Da Vinci Code was particularly well written, but Dan Brown isn't the first author to release a best selling book like that, and he certainly won't be the last"
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Summary the Priory of Ccion and a lot of related detail was based on a hoax by three french people including a bored eccentric marquis, the fact it's a hoax has been well known for over 20 years. Many people including the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail don't believe them.
The program ended with the following line from Tony Robinson which I quote from memory (so may be in accurate):
"Personally I don't think The Da Vinci Code was particularly well written, but Dan Brown isn't the first author to release a best selling book like that, and he certainly won't be the last"