Reformation : Europe's House Divided 1490-1700 - Softcover

MacCulloch, Diarmaid

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140285342 ISBN 13: 9780140285345

Publisher: Penguin, 2004

Synopsis

'A masterpiece ... In its field it is the best book ever' Guardian

Winner of the Wolfson Prize for history, Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700 charts a seismic shift in European culture that marked the beginning of the modern world.

At a time when men and women were prepared to kill - and be killed - for their faith, the Reformation tore the western world apart. Acclaimed as the definitive account of these epochal events, Diarmaid MacCulloch's history brilliantly re-creates the religious battles of priests, monarchs, scholars and politicians, from the zealous Martin Luther nailing his Theses to the door of a Wittenburg church to the radical Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order; from Thomas Cranmer, martyred for his reforms, to the ambitious Philip II, unwavering in his campaign against Europe's 'heretics'.

Weaving together the many strands of Reformation and Counter-Reformation, ranging widely across Europe and even to the new world, MacCulloch also reveals as never before how these upheavals affected everyday lives - overturning ideas of love, sex, death and the supernatural, and shaping the modern age.

'Magisterial and eloquent'
  David Starkey

'A triumph of human sympathy'
  Blair Worden, Sunday Telegraph

'From politics to witchcraft, from the liturgy to sex; the sweep of European history covered here is breathtakingly panoramic. This is a model work of history'
  Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph Books of the Year

'Monumental ... Reformation is set to become a landmark'
  Lisa Jardine, Observer

Diarmaid MacCulloch is Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University. His Thomas Cranmer won the Whitbread Biography Prize, the James Tait Black Prize and the Duff Cooper Prize. He is also the author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.

About this title

Review:

As a historical document Diarmaid MacCulloch's 750-page narrative Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700 has all the key ingredients. MacCulloch, a professor of history as the Church of Oxford University, is an articulate and vibrant writer with a strong guiding intelligence. The structure is sensible, starting with the main characters who influenced reforms, then spreads out to the regional concerns and social intellectual themes of the era. He even fast forwards into American Christianity--showing how this historical era influences modern times.

MacCulloch has written what is widely considered to be the authoritative account of the Reformation--a critical juncture in the history of Christianity. "It is impossible to understand modern Europe without understanding these 16th-century upheavals in Latin Christianity" he writes. "They represented the greatest fault line to appear in Christian culture since the Latin and Greek halves of the Roman Empire went their separate ways a thousand years before; they produced a house divided." The resulting split between the Catholics and Protestants still divides Christians throughout the Western world. It affects interpretations of the Bible, beliefs about baptisms, and event how much authority is given to religious leaders. The division even fuels an ongoing war. What makes MacCulloch's account rise above previous attempts to interpret the Reformation is the breadth of his research. Rather than limit his narrative to the actions of key theologians and leaders of the era--Luther, Zingli, Calvin, Loyola, Cranmer, Henry VIII and numerous popes--MacCulloch sweeps his narrative across the culture, politics and lay people of Renaissance Western Europe. This broad brush approach touches upon many fascinating discussions surrounding the Reformation, including his belief that the Latin Church was probably not as "corrupt and ineffective" as Protestants tend to portray it. In fact, he asserts that it "generally satisfied the spiritual needs of the late medieval people."

MacCulloch is a top-notch historian--he uncovers material and theories that will seem fresh and inspired to Reformation scholars as well as lay readers. --Gail Hudson, Amazon.com

Review:

"This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.'" --Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
"MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available." --Financial Times
"A lasting work [and] one of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade." --The Atlantic Monthly
Praise for "The Reformation"

"A learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork . . . This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.'"
--Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"

"One of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade . . . MacCulloch's analyses of the lives, personalities, ideas, and struggles are at once sharp and profound. . . . A lasting work."
--Benjamin Schwarz, "The Atlantic"

"Evenhanded, learned, and profound . . . It is difficult to imagine anybody writing a better book about the Reformation."
--Karen Armstong, "Los Angeles Times Book Review"

"Superb . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available."
--A. C. Grayling, "Financial Times"

"Dazzling . . . A magnificent achievement . . . It is hard not to admire a book that is such a masterpiece of learning, and yet written with a disarming lightness of touch."
--Michael Howard, "The Times Literary Supplement"

"A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written."
--David Edwards, "The Guardian"
Praise for "The Reformation"
"A learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork . . . This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.'"
--Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"
"One of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade . . . MacCulloch's analyses of the lives, personalities, ideas, and struggles are at once sharp and profound. . . . A lasting work."
--Benjamin Schwarz, "The Atlantic"
"Evenhanded, learned, and profound . . . It is difficult to imagine anybody writing a better book about the Reformation."
--Karen Armstong, "Los Angeles Times Book Review"
"Superb . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available."
--A. C. Grayling, "Financial Times"
"Dazzling . . . A magnificent achievement . . . It is hard not to admire a book that is such a masterpiece of learning, and yet written with a disarming lightness of touch."
--Michael Howard, "The Times Literary Supplement"
"A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written."
--David Edwards, "The Guardian"
Praise for "The Reformation"
"A learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork . . . This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.'"
--Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"
"One of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade . . . MacCulloch's analyses of the lives, personalities, ideas, and struggles are at once sharp and profound. . . . A lasting work."
--Benjamin Schwarz, "The Atlantic"
"Evenhanded, learned, and profound . . . It is difficult to imagine anybody writing a better book about the Reformation."
--Karen Armstong, "Los Angeles Times Book Review"
"Superb . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available."
--A. C. Grayling, "Financial Times"
"Dazzling . . . A magnificent achievement . . . It is hard not to admire a book that is such a masterpiece of learning, and yet written with a disarming lightness of touch."
--Michael Howard, "The Times Literary Supplement"
"A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written."
--David Edwards, "The Guardian"
Praise for "The Reformation"
A learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork . . . This isn t merely a history of the Reformation, but rather the history.
Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"
One of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade . . . MacCulloch s analyses of the lives, personalities, ideas, and struggles are at once sharp and profound. . . . A lasting work.
Benjamin Schwarz, "The Atlantic"
Evenhanded, learned, and profound . . . It is difficult to imagine anybody writing a better book about the Reformation.
Karen Armstong, "Los Angeles Times Book Review"
Superb . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available.
A. C. Grayling, "Financial Times"
Dazzling . . . A magnificent achievement . . . It is hard not to admire a book that is such a masterpiece of learning, and yet written with a disarming lightness of touch.
Michael Howard, "The Times Literary Supplement"
A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written.
David Edwards, "The Guardian"
"

Praise for The Reformation
A learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork . . . This isn t merely a history of the Reformation, but rather the history.
Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
One of the most magisterial and stylishly written historical works to be published in a decade . . . MacCulloch s analyses of the lives, personalities, ideas, and struggles are at once sharp and profound. . . . A lasting work.
Benjamin Schwarz, The Atlantic
Evenhanded, learned, and profound . . . It is difficult to imagine anybody writing a better book about the Reformation.
Karen Armstong, Los Angeles Times Book Review
Superb . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available.
A. C. Grayling, Financial Times
Dazzling . . . A magnificent achievement . . . It is hard not to admire a book that is such a masterpiece of learning, and yet written with a disarming lightness of touch.
Michael Howard, The Times Literary Supplement
A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written.
David Edwards, The Guardian
"

Praise for The Reformation

This isn t merely a history of the Reformation, but rather the history. One would be hard put to imagine a more detailed, even-handed, clearly written account of the religious controversies of the sixteenth century.... The Reformation is a learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork.
Michael Dirda, The Washington Post Book World
Richly encyclopedic... MacCulloch brings the history ofthe Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available.
Financial Times
Monumental... The Reformation is set to become a landmark.
Lisa Jardine, The Observer
Handled here with brilliance, this is the kind of history that normally gives even academic historians vertigo.
The Economist
Deserves to become the standard history of early modern Europe religion and its legacy, synthesizing and assessing a quarter-century of international scholarship... Like the best of historians, he helps us to understand why we are; and why we need not be so.
Ronald Hutton, The Independent
Wide-ranging, richly layered and captivating... This spectacular intellectual history reminds us that the Reformation grew out of the Renaissance, and provides a compelling glimpse of the cultural currents that formed the background to reform. MacCulloch s magisterial book should become the definitive history of the Reformation.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A masterpiece of readable scholarship... In its field it is the best book ever written.
David Edwards, The Guardian
From Politics to witchcraft, from the liturgy to sex; the sweep of European history covered here is breathtakingly panoramic. This is a model work of history.
Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph
Excellent... There are moments of sheer pleasure.... MacCulloch s well-paced style makes the book seem half its length.
Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Sunday Times "

Praise for The Reformation

-This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.' One would be hard put to imagine a more detailed, even-handed, clearly written account of the religious controversies of the sixteenth century. . . . The Reformation is a learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork.-
--Michael Dirda, The Washington Post Book World
-Richly encyclopedic . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available.-
--Financial Times
-Monumental . . . The Reformation is set to become a landmark.-
--Lisa Jardine, The Observer
-Handled here with brilliance, this is the kind of history that normally gives even academic historians vertigo.-
--The Economist
-Deserves to become the standard history of early modern Europe religion and its legacy, synthesizing and assessing a quarter-century of international scholarship . . . Like the best of historians, he helps us to understand why we are; and why we need not be so.-
--Ronald Hutton, The Independent
-Wide-ranging, richly layered and captivating . . . This spectacular intellectual history reminds us that the Reformation grew out of the Renaissance, and provides a compelling glimpse of the cultural currents that formed the background to reform. MacCulloch's magisterial book should become the definitive history of the Reformation.-
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
-A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written.-
--David Edwards, The Guardian
-From Politics to witchcraft, from the liturgy to sex; the sweep of European history covered here is breathtakingly panoramic. This is a model work of history.-
--Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph
-Excellent . . . There are moments of sheer pleasure. . . . MacCulloch's well-paced style makes the book seem half its length.-
--Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Sunday Times

Praise for The Reformation

"This isn't merely 'a history' of the Reformation, but rather 'the history.' One would be hard put to imagine a more detailed, even-handed, clearly written account of the religious controversies of the sixteenth century. . . . The Reformation is a learned, enlightening, and disturbing masterwork."
--Michael Dirda, The Washington Post Book World

"Richly encyclopedic . . . MacCulloch brings the history of the Reformation into vivid focus, providing what must surely be the best general account available."
--Financial Times

"Monumental . . . The Reformation is set to become a landmark."
--Lisa Jardine, The Observer

"Handled here with brilliance, this is the kind of history that normally gives even academic historians vertigo."
--The Economist

"Deserves to become the standard history of early modern Europe religion and its legacy, synthesizing and assessing a quarter-century of international scholarship . . . Like the best of historians, he helps us to understand why we are; and why we need not be so."
--Ronald Hutton, The Independent

"Wide-ranging, richly layered and captivating . . . This spectacular intellectual history reminds us that the Reformation grew out of the Renaissance, and provides a compelling glimpse of the cultural currents that formed the background to reform. MacCulloch's magisterial book should become the definitive history of the Reformation."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A masterpiece of readable scholarship . . . In its field it is the best book ever written."
--David Edwards, The Guardian

"From Politics to witchcraft, from the liturgy to sex; the sweep of European history covered here is breathtakingly panoramic. This is a model work of history."
--Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph

"Excellent . . . There are moments of sheer pleasure. . . . MacCulloch's well-paced style makes the book seem half its length."
--Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Sunday Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0140285342
• ISBN 13: 9780140285345
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 864