European history: Reformation Books

Book Synopsis''a vital resource''TLS ''Compelling collection''Literary Review The Reformation was a seismic event in history whose consequences are still unfolding in Europe and across the world. Martin Luther''s protests against the marketing of indulgences in 1517 were part of a long-standing pattern of calls for reform in the Christian Church. But they rapidly took a radical and unexpected turn, engulfing first Germany, and then Europe, in furious arguments about how God''s will was to be ''saved''. However, these debates did not remain confined to a narrow sphere of theology. They came to reshape politics and international relations; social, cultural, and artistic developments; relations between the sexes; and the patterns and performances of everyday life. They were also the stimulus for Christianity''s transformation into a truly global religion, as agents of the Roman Catholic Church sought to compensate for losses in Europe with new conversions in Asia and the Americas. Covering both Protestant and Catholic reform movements, in Europe and across the wider world, this compact volume tells the story of the Reformation from its immediate, explosive beginnings, through to its profound longer-term consequences and legacy for the modern world. The story is not one of an inevitable triumph of liberty over oppression, enlightenment over ignorance. Rather, it tells how a multitude of rival groups and individuals, with or without the support of political power, strove after visions of ''reform''. And how, in spite of themselves, they laid the foundations for the plural and conflicted world we now inhabit.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition ...a scintillating state-of-the-art survey of the Reformation... a marvellous collection of essays. * Henry A. Jefferies, Iris h Historical Studies *authored by leading reformation scholars.... The book is learned, although unencumbered by footnotes, being cognizant of the latest developments in reformation research, and sometimes challenging them...the resulting work is informative, readable, and authoritative. * Benjamin B. Saunders, Reading Religion *provid[es] an easily accessible distillation of some of the best recent scholarship of the Reformation. A work of this kind is a vital resource for anyone concerned to understand what ideas, events and convictions compelled the sea changes in Christianity that took place in the sixteenth century, and, no less important, to understand the repercussions of these changes which are still felt today. * Anne Dillon, Times Literary Supplement *This short volume does a magnificent job in providing a birds eye view of the Protestant Reformation * Mark Greengrass, University of Sheffield, Huguenot Society Journal *This book does a fine job of unfolding the intricately decorated and richly textured fabric of this extraordinary era... a scintillating collection of essays that challenges conventional views of the Reformation. * Lucy Wooding, The Tablet *Expert essays * Theology, Diarmaird MacCulloch *An outstanding work of church history * Church of England Newspaper *Splendid book * Catholic Herald *Compelling collection...Brilliantly assembled by Peter Marshall * Literary Review, Paul Lay *it bears comparison with the very best studies and compendia... a hearty 'bravo' is in order * Herald, Jonathan Wright *Wonderful... It's a huge achievement by Marshall, and by OUP, that cleverly gets the ball rolling head of the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses * Oxford Today *a text from some of the leading experts in the field, who present a fine panorama of current thinking on this formative era for the modern West. * Diarmaid MacCulloch, University of Oxford, and author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years *An outstanding work of church history. * Paul Richardson, Church of England Newspaper *Seven leading scholars present Reformation history from diverse and informed perspectives... Highly recommended. General readers through faculty. * Choice *The seven essays in this edited volume accomplish what few other texts on the market do in providing a brief account of the Reformations from different, interwoven, and at times contrasting perspectives. * Eric Demeuse, Newman Studies Journal *Table of ContentsEditor's Foreword 1: Late Medieval Christianity by Bruce Gordon 2: Martin Luther by Lyndal Roper 3: Calvinism and the Reform of the Reformation by Carlos Eire 4: The Radical Reformation by Brad S. Gregory 5: Catholic Reformation and Renewal by Simon Ditchfield 6: Britain's Reformations by Peter Marshall 7: Reformation Legacies by Alexandra Walsham Further Reading Chronology Picture Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES, THE TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, SPECTATOR, FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN, BBC HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR''This is the biography we have been awaiting for 400 years'' Hilary Mantel''A masterpiece'' Dan Jones, Sunday TimesThomas Cromwell is one of the most famous - or notorious - figures in English history. Born in obscurity in Putney, he became a fixer for Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s. After Wolsey''s fall, Henry VIII promoted him to a series of ever greater offices, and by the end of the 1530s he was effectively running the country for the King. That decade was one of the most momentous in English history: it saw a religious break with the Pope, unprecedented use of parliament, the dissolution of all monasteries. Cromwell was central to all this, but establishing his role with precision, at a distance of nearly five centuries and after the destruction of many of his papers at his own fall, has been notoriously difficult.Diarmaid MacCulloch''s biography is much the most complete and persuasive life ever written of this elusive figure, a masterclass in historical detective work, making connections not previously seen. It overturns many received interpretations, for example that Cromwell was a cynical, ''secular'' politician without deep-felt religious commitment, or that he and Anne Boleyn were allies because of their common religious sympathies - in fact he destroyed her. It introduces the many different personalities of these foundational years, all conscious of the ''terrifyingly unpredictable'' Henry VIII. MacCulloch allows readers to feel that they are immersed in all this, that it is going on around them.For a time, the self-made ''ruffian'' (as he described himself) - ruthless, adept in the exercise of power, quietly determined in religious revolution - was master of events. MacCulloch''s biography for the first time reveals his true place in the making of modern England and Ireland, for good and ill.Trade ReviewSir Diarmaid MacCulloch is one of finest historians in the English-speaking world and preeminent in the area of the English Reformation. He has combined his expertise in 16th-century history with a compelling literary style in his latest book ... the definitive work on Henry VIII's great minister and an extraordinary insight into the politics and religion of the age, and of any age for that matter. Thomas Cromwell's somewhat dark reputation was given a new and bright shine by Hilary Mantel in the Wolf Hall trilogy and this life takes us from the fictional into the authentic; its triumph is that it is just as thrilling and equally stimulating and challenging. A profoundly important book. -- Rev. Michael Coren * Spectator *Meticulous and magisterial ... If this is not the definitive biography, I don't know what that would look like -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *Triumphant and definitive ... a masterpiece of documentary detective-work, which buzzes with the excitement of a great historian immersed in archives -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *A model of classical historical biography at its finest -- Rowan Williams * New Statesman *The definitive biography ... exhaustively researched and superbly written -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times (Books of the Year) *The Tudor minister brought to fictional life in Wolf Hall is given a definitive scholarly treatment in this long-awaited, masterful, wry biography -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph (Books of the Year) *

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Stuart dynasty is a breathless soap opera played out in just a hundred years in an array of buildings that span Europe from Scotland, via Denmark, Holland and Spain to England.Life in the court of the House of Stuart has been shrouded in mystery: the first half of the century overshadowed by the fall and execution of Charles I, the second half in the complete collapse of the House itself. Lost to time is the extraordinary contribution the Stuarts made to the fabric of sovereignty.Every palace they built, painting they commissioned, or artwork they acquired was a direct reflection of the lives that they led and the way that they thought. Palaces of Revolution explores this rich history in graphic detail, giving a unique insight into the lives of this famous dynasty. It takes us from Royston and Newmarket, where James I appropriated most of the town centre as a sort of rough-and-ready royal housing estate, to the steamy Turkish baths at Whitehall where Charles II seducedTrade Review‘Simon Thurley may be congratulated on a splendid achievement, which serves several different branches of history at once, as well as those who appreciate a clear and lively literary style … An important addition to knowledge’ Ronald Hutton, Times Literary Supplement ‘A hugely impressive, readable book that covers its broad canvas with assurance … Thoughtfully illustrated and furnished with plans of the buildings, itself a huge accomplishment.’ John Goodall, Country Life ‘In his admirably readable new book, Simon Thurley, who probably knows more about the palaces of the 16th and 17th centuries than anyone alive, has written a chronological survey of the royal residences of the Stuarts, a period of just over 100 years. You almost can read it as an alternative history of the dynasty … Lively and authoritative’ Andrew Taylor, The Times ‘Palaces of Revolution is far more than just a history book … The author’s knowledge … is unprecedented, elevating the historical survey into an alternative reading of the Stuart Dynasty … one only has to read this book to hear the walls talking. From secret seductions to fierce fighting, Thurley writes with great detail, invigorating the historical narratives we know and presenting new stories’ The Scottish Field ‘There can be few as well-placed to write about the buildings associated with the Stuart monarchy as Simon Thurley … This book – engagingly written and beautifully illustrated – is a comprehensive account of those achievements, and of the role that buildings played in the political life of early modern Britain.’ Historic House magazine ‘The culmination of nearly 30 years of research, [Palaces of Revolution] takes us back in time to bring these “hollow citadels of ceremony” and those who occupied them to life once again.’ Apollo

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Book SynopsisOn 28 January 1547, the sickly and obese King Henry VIII died at Whitehall. Just hours before his passing, his last will and testament had been read, stamped and sealed. The will confirmed the line of succession as Edward, Mary and Elizabeth; and, following them, the Grey and Suffolk families. It also listed bequests to the king's most trusted councillors and servants. Henry's will is one of the most intriguing and contested documents in British history. Historians have disagreed over its intended meaning, its authenticity and validity, and the circumstances of its creation. As well as examining the background to the drafting of the will and describing Henry's last days, Suzannah Lipscomb offers her own, illuminating interpretation of one of the most significant constitutional documents of the Tudor period. 'A bold and original attempt to unravel one of the great mysteries of English history' DAVID STARKEYTrade ReviewI was gripped by Suzannah Lipscomb's The King is Dead, an elegantly written forensic examination of Henry VIII's last will and testament -- Saul David, Book of the Year in the Evening StandardThis is a book that deserves to be read. Lipscomb has produced an entirely credible interpretation of a contentious issue. Her sober but still engaging prose thankfully lacks that sweet sentimentality that so often characterises popular histories of the Tudors... With admirable authority, she provides an interesting allegory about how misplaced trust can undermine the best-laid plans of a powerful king' * The Times *As generous with its detail as it is with its beautifully reproduced images... a must-read for those fascinated by the Tudor world' * History Revealed *Learn of Henry's last days and the drafting of the will in this beautiful, illuminating – and illuminated – tome * Historical Trips UK *A bold and original attempt to unravel one of the great mysteries of English history -- David Starkey

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Book Synopsis''A tale I have for you.''Embra, winter of 1574. Queen Mary has fled Scotland, to raise an army from the French. Her son and heir, Jamie is held under protection in Stirling Castle. John Knox is dead. The people are unmoored and lurching under the uncertain governance of this riven land. It''s a deadly time for young student Will Fowler, short of stature, low of birth but mightily ambitious, to make his name.Fowler has found himself where the scorch marks of the martyrs burned at the stake can be seen on every street, where differences in doctrine can prove fatal, where the feuds of great families pull innocents into their bloody realm. There he befriends the austere stick-wielding philosopher Tom Nicolson, son of a fishing family whose sister Rose, untutored, brilliant and exceedingly beautiful exhibits a free-thinking mind that can only bring danger upon her and her admirers. The lowly students are adept at attracting the attentions of the rich and powerTrade ReviewI loved this book -- Richard HollowayExceptionally enjoyable . . . Greig very skilfully combines a gripping adventure story with an exploration of the dark forces that shaped Scottish history. * Sunday Times *Prepare to be pitched back in time in this visceral and passionate novel set in 16th Century Scotland * Sunday Post Dundee *[A] highly entertaining historical novel * Independent *Andrew Greig's novel is written in archaic Scots; the result is an immersive reading experience, helped along by a glossary. This is a meaty, satisfying novel and the character of Rose, a strong woman trapped by her circumstances, will linger long. * Times *[N]ever allows the narrative to flag. William Fowler is his perfect alter ego, a poet, a gowfer and a natural raconteur * Literary Review *This novel is full of surprises, rich in delights. Greig writes with rare authority and understandings. Sometimes it seems as if he was behind a heavy tapestry or curtain listening to everything being said, then keeking through a gap to view the action. * The Scotsman *Mr Greig is a master at conjuring atmosphere, very good on taste and aroma-'the smell of ink, that dark and pungent rot'-and keeps his complex tangle of plotlines taut. He avoids quaint archaism and possesses the ability to make the past feel present to the people he describes * Country Life *[A] rich, lyrical, rackety, colourful read. * Daily Mail *Rose Nicolson is a remarkable novel, a work of imagination, intelligence and gusto . . . the novel is full of surprises, rich in delights. Greig writes with rare authority and understanding. * The Scotsman Magazine *[A] brilliant combination of romance and historical insight, and Rose is an intriguing heroine. * Woman & Home *[A]n exquisitely crafted historical novel that elegantly evokes 16th century Embra while also providing a thrilling snapshot of the struggle for power over Scotland's crown. * Wee Review *This is a gripping and engrossing retelling of a dramatic period in Scottish history by an appealing and engaging narrator. * Countryman Magazine *A vivid and passionate novel set in 16th Century Scotland * Edinburgh Life *Rose Nicolson is a remarkable novel, a work of imagination, intelligence and gusto . . .This novel is full of surprises, rich in delights. Greig writes with rare authority and understanding . . . it is lucid and has the essential rapidity that a historical romance requires. -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *Of the books i've read so far, i'd have to mention . . . Rose Nicolson by Andrew Greig -- Ian Rankin (Books of the Year, Irish Independent)

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Book SynopsisThe image of Catherine of Aragon has always suffered in comparison to the heir-providing Jane Seymour or the vivacious eroticism of Anne Boleyn. But when Henry VIII married Catherine, she was an auburn-haired beauty in her twenties with a passion she had inherited from her parents, Isabella and Ferdinand, the joint-rulers of Spain who had driven the Moors from their country.This daughter of conquistadors showed the same steel and sense of command when organising the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Flodden and Henry was to learn, to his cost, that he had not met a tougher opponent on or off the battlefield when he tried to divorce her.Henry VIII introduced four remarkable women into the tumultuous flow of England''s history: Catherine of Aragon and her daughter ''Bloody'' Queen Mary; and Anne Boleyn and her daughter, the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. ''From this contest, between two mothers and two daughters, was born the religious passion and violence that inflamed England for centuries,'' says David Starkey. Reformation, revolution and Tudor history would all have been vastly different without Catherine of Aragon.Giles Tremlett''s new biography is the first in more than four decades to be dedicated entirely and uniquely to the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry''s five other wives put together. It draws on fresh material from Spain to trace the dramatic events of her life through Catherine of Aragon''s own eyes. ''Enthralling biography . . . this lively and richly detailed book . . . describing the queen''s fierce battle to retain her crown, Tremlett brilliantly breathes life into the shadowy figure of a stubborn and finally heroic woman.'' Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe book provides an overview and analysis of the witch trials in the Scottish Borders in the 17th century. The 17th century was a time of upheaval in Scottish and British history, with a civil war, the abolition of the monarchy, the plague and the reformation all influencing the social context at the time. This book explores the social, political, geographical, religious and legal structures that led to the increased amount of witch trials and executions in the Scottish Borders. As well as looking at specific trials the book also explores the role of women, both as accuser and as accused.Trade Review‘She takes an interesting and holistic view of this turbulent time in Scottish history. A fascinating read.’ – KENNY SMITH‘It’s a particularly juicy bite of Scottish social history.’ – SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

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Book Synopsis1606: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear traces Shakespeare''s life and times from the autumn of 1605, when he took an old and anonymous Elizabethan play, The Chronicle History of King Leir, and transformed it into his most searing tragedy, King Lear.1606 proved to be an especially grim year for England, which witnessed the bloody aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot, divisions over the Union of England and Scotland, and an outbreak of plague. But it turned out to be an exceptional one for Shakespeare, unrivalled at identifying the fault-lines of his cultural moment, who before the year was out went on to complete two other great Jacobean tragedies that spoke directly to these fraught times: Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra.Following the biographical style of 1599, a way of thinking and writing that Shapiro has made his own, 1606: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear promises to be one of the most significant and accessible works on Shakespeare in the decade to come

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Book SynopsisThe first book to look at the lives of Anna of Clevesâ siblings, particularly her powerful brother Wilhelm V and her elder sister Sybylla, and their interactions with the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France, which had a significant impact on the Reformation.Trade Review‘This deeply researched book from the world’s foremost expert in the field finally sets Queen Anne of Cleves in her proper context – as part of a ducal dynasty at the heart of Renaissance Europe.’ -- Suzannah Lipscomb'I found it very helpful that the text was divided into logical chapters and sections, making it easier to follow the narrative as we go on a journey across a continent at war.' -- Family Tree Magazine, October 2023'Darsie has done a masterful job of collecting and presenting the story of Anna and her siblings to an English audience concisely.' -- Adventures of a Tudor Nerd'This is a book that should appeal to a broad range of audiences; it is authoritative, readable and fascinating.' -- All About History Magazine, October 2023

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Book SynopsisThis brief historical introduction to the English Reformation explores the social, political and religious factors that formed the original context in which it emerged, and the major thinkers and writings to which it gave birth. Ryrie also explores the intellectual and cultural `afterlife' of the English Reformation, and its lasting impact.Trade ReviewA mould-breaking little book. Ryrie persuades us that how we describe and interpret the English Reformation can owe almost as much to who is telling the story and what we want to hear as to the facts. It's a message that's long overdue, a wake-up call to anyone interested in the topic. * John Guy, University of Cambridge *Alec Ryrie here performs an extraordinary feat: his deep knowledge and fresh, original understanding of the period are packed into every line but in such delicious, efficient prose that one barely notices what great draughts of learning are being gulped down. A little gem of a book. * Suzannah Lipscomb, FRHistS, FHEA, Professor of History, University of Roehampton; author of A Visitor’s Companion to Tudor England *This brief but masterly account illuminates our understanding of what happened, why it happened, and why it still matters, by showing us how many different perspectives there are on this world-changing event. It's not just Henry VIII and his wives: as this book shows, the spiritual and political consequences of the English Reformation, good and bad, are still very much part of our world today. * Eric Metaxas, host of the nationally syndicated Eric Metaxas Radio Show; author of Martin Luther: The Man who Rediscovered God and Changed the world *

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Book SynopsisIn 1573, the alchemist Anna Zieglerin gave her patron, the Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, the recipe for an extraordinary substance she called the lion's blood. She claimed that this golden oil could stimulate the growth of plants, create gemstones, transform lead into the coveted philosophers' stone—and would serve a critical role in preparing for the Last Days. Boldly envisioning herself as a Protestant Virgin Mary, Anna proposed that the lion's blood, paired with her own body, could even generate life, repopulating and redeeming the corrupt world in its final moments. In Anna Zieglerin and the Lion's Blood, Tara Nummedal reconstructs the extraordinary career and historical afterlife of alchemist, courtier, and prophet Anna Zieglerin. She situates Anna's story within the wider frameworks of Reformation Germany's religious, political, and military battles; the rising influence of alchemy; the role of apocalyptic eschatology; and the position of women within these contexts. Together with her husband, the jester Heinrich Schombach, and their companion and fellow alchemist Philipp Sommering, Anna promised her patrons at the court of Wolfenbüttel spiritual salvation and material profit. But her compelling vision brought with it another, darker possibility: rather than granting her patrons wealth or redemption, Anna's alchemical gifts might instead lead to war, disgrace, and destruction. By 1575, three years after Anna's arrival at court, her enemies had succeeded in turning her from holy alchemist into poisoner and sorceress, culminating in Anna's arrest, torture, and public execution. In her own life, Anna was a master of self-fashioning; in the centuries since her death, her story has been continually refashioned, making her a fitting emblem for each new age. Interweaving the history of science, gender, religion, and politics, Nummedal recounts how one resourceful woman's alchemical schemes touched some of the most consequential matters in Reformation Germany.Trade Review"This is a major feat of historical revision for a subject that has too long been the object of mockery and scorn . . . Tara Nummedal's new microhistory demonstrates with scholarly acumen and stylistic élan just how wrong assumptions [about alchemy] are. In a dazzling work of cultural imagination, she eschews all the 'turning lead into gold' nonsense and quickly gets to the conceptual heart of who alchemists were, what they actually believed, and what roles they played in early modern society. Building on deep archival work and sophisticated argumentation, she fashions a truly engaging and revealing microhistory focused on the tragic story of one sixteenth-century practitioner, Anna Zieglerin."" * Preternature *"[A] gripping microhistory that situates alchemy within the histories of imperial politics, Reformation culture, Renaissance self-fashioning, courtly patronage, gender, the body, and sixteenth-century eschatology...With its intriguing storytelling, Anna Zieglerin and the Lion’s Blood is particularly attractive for scholars and students new to the complexities of early modern alchemy. Nummedal maintains a light touch, weaving discussions of sixteenth-century science, magic, religion, and imperial politics into what remains an enthralling tale throughout. She is to be commended for producing a book that does so much to highlight alchemy’s connections to a broad range of Reformation-era developments and that has a chance to bring its history to a wider audience." * Renaissance and Reformation *"Captivating and creative from the earliest pages...Nummedal has skillfully interwoven the history of science and religion, as well as political, social, gender, and court histories via an insightful look into the alchemical theories and practices of the age...[An] erudite and well-written study. Nummedal has produced a fun page-turner and the reader—whether a scholar of any aspect of early modern history or a general reader interested in good stories and good histories—will benefit from this wonderful presentation of alchemy and political intrigue in the courts of the Holy Roman Empire." * The Journal of Modern History *"In this masterful study, Tara Nummedal exposes a previously vilified figure of local German history to sympathetic new scrutiny and in the process, opens a window onto the fantastic worldview of her subject…By employing archival and manuscript evidence along with the older historiography, Nummedal manages to piece together the fascinating story." * American Historical Review *"In Alchemy and Authority, Nummedal made clear how alchemy was deeply integrated into early modern economics and court culture. In this latest effort, Nummedal has accomplished the same goal except on a vastly more ambitious scale, bringing the relevance of alchemy into the politics, religion, diplomacy, court culture, and gender roles of the Holy Roman Empire in the sixteenth century . . . Anna Zieglerin and the Lion's Blood is a remarkable historiographical study . . . In short, Nummedal has contributed a stunning achievement that ideally will reach a wide and diverse audience far beyond historians of science." * Ambix *"[A]an entertaining book, with long stretches reading like a thriller…Anna Zieglerin lived her existence as an alchemist so authentically, was so dedicated body and soul to the matter that not only the substances but also she herself became a victim of the flames. The fact that she is now transmuted into a book and can live on in this way is a testament to Nummedal’s achievement." * Annals of Science *"Anna Zieglerin and the Lion's Blood is perfect for historians and general readers alike. It is written in a vivid and accessible language, and by adopting a nonjudgmental style of reporting Nummedal decisively differs from her predecessors: she refuses to make value judgments about Anna's wondrous and outrageous claims and brand the alchemist a simple charlatan. Instead, she presents the story of a complex and tragic individual, who came up with a unique theory of heavenly alchemy." * Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft *"Drawing upon diverse sources, Nummedal situates Anna and her alchemy within the social contexts of gender, religion, and politics in Reformation Germany to weave an impressive historical narrative of a woman attempting to understand the natural world and her place within it...Nummedal succeeds in reframing Anna Zieglerin as a woman with agency who intentionally fashioned herself into a courtly alchemist within strict early modern European gender boundaries. Nummedal’s Anna is a lens through which the twentyfirst-century reader can view the history of alchemy and its relationship to Christianity, the body, and politics." * Isis *"Nummedal’s analysis offers particular insights into the history of women’s bodies, the intersections between natural knowledge and politics, and the relationship between self-fashioning and fantasy...The book is meticulously researched and displays the author’s talents for archival sleuthing (which were already known from her first book). Beyond this, it is eminently readable and takes what is strange, foreign, and ripe for misunderstanding, making it comprehensible and relatable." * Journal of the History of Medicine *"The book is superbly written and clearly contextualized, and thus easily accessible even to non-experts. However, more experienced scholars will also benefit from this elegant study. All in all, Anna Zieglerin and the Lion’s Blood adds considerably to our understanding of the complexity of sixteenth-century religiosity, which was easily able to accommodate alchemical practices...Because of the ways in which it considers the religious implications of alchemical practice, Nummedal’s study is a worthwhile read not only for historians of science but also for Church historians and religious scholars." * Renaissance Quarterly *"Anna Zieglerin and the Lion's Blood is as gripping as a good novel yet so much more than merely an interesting yarn. Tara Nummedal is completely conversant with the milieu in which she locates her story and is very adept in fitting this episode into the broader narratives of sixteenth-century religion, science, and court life." * Philip Soergel, University of Maryland *"Anna Zieglerin and the Lion's Blood is at once a story of one particular woman and a broader discourse on gender and the body, the history of alchemy, the central role of apocalyptic thinking in early modern Germany, and, most interestingly, the nature of historical truth. A remarkable story, expertly told." * Alisha Rankin, Tufts University *Table of ContentsCast of Characters A Note on Names Introduction. A Witch's Chair? Chapter 1. The Shadow of Gotha Chapter 2. The Road to Wolfenbüttel Chapter 3. Courting Julius and Hedwig Chapter 4. The Lion's Blood Chapter 5. A New Virgin Mary Chapter 6. Unraveling Chapter 7. Toad Poison and Other Fictions Conclusion. Afterlives Chronology of Events Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe Reformation was the single most important event of the early modern period of Western civilization. In Reformation in the Western World, Paul Silas Peterson shows how the retrieval of the ancient Christian teachings about God's grace and the authority of Scripture influenced culture, society, and the political order.Trade Review"This is a remarkably balanced overview of Reformation thought and of the context in which it emerged and developed. The discussed issues are so evenhandedly presented that the serious reader is moved to rethink his or her own position and the reasons for it. No less impressive is the authors contribution to the interconfessional and interreligious dialogue that involves critical judgment about where and on what matters the respective traditions need corrections. The result is a very readable book, appealing not only to students and scholars but also to general readers." -- Emidio Campi, Professor Emeritus of Church History & former Director of the Institute for Swiss Reformation History, University of Zurich"Dr Peterson has pursued an ambitious and challenging goal in this relatively compact volume. He seeks to clarify the legacy of the Reformation, specifically its impact on the Western world. Because of its introductory and summary nature and its significant engagement with current scholarship, particularly in German and English, this volume invites further exploration, evaluation, reinterpretation, and nuancing, even as it offers keen insights, draws important conclusions, and provides helpful perspectives. It can, therefore, serve as a useful scholarly resource, both in survey courses and in more advanced seminar settings." -- Kurt K Hendel, Bernard, Fischer, Westberg Distinguished Ministry Professor Emeritus of Reformation History, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago"Paul Petersons Reformation in the Western World is an ambitious and wide-ranging attempt to rethink the place of the Reformation in the grand narratives of the Western world. It takes on big themes, from tolerance and intolerance to capitalism, secularism, and the rise of modernism, and yet it never loses touch with the history or the spirit of the age, equally at home in the Reformation discussions of repentance and justification as in the theories of the modern day. Thoughtful, provocative, and based on broad scholarship, this book will encourage readers to think about the Reformation in new ways." -- C Scott Dixon, Senior Lecturer, The Queens University of BelfastThis book is a useful introduction not only to current Reformation research but also to debates among contemporary theologians and cultural critics about the impact of Protestantism on western culture and Christianity's role in contemporary society more generally. -- Amy Nelson Burnett -- Lutheran QuarterlyPeterson's work is invaluable for those in the fields of Reformation studies or church history and is highly recommended for those interested in the interaction between theology, politics, and society in the Western world. -- Brian L. Hanson -- Reading ReligionTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Good and the Bad of the Reformation Chapter 1. The Western World and the Reformation Chapter 2. The Evils and Errors of the Reformers Chapter 3. Prehistory, Division, and Authority Chapter 4. Political Power and Tolerance Chapter 5. Modernity, Democracy, Capitalism, and Secularism Chapter 6. The Western World Today Chapter 7. The Reformation and Ecumenism Conclusion: The Future of Reformation

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Book SynopsisWitchcraft holds a continued fascination for readers around the world, and the Scottish witch hunts have recently received renewed media attention, especially with the BBC 2 show Lucy Worsley Investigates, bringing attention to Edinburgh’s witches.Expert Mary Craig explores the unusual story of Agnes Finnie, a middle class shopkeeper who lived in the tenements of Edinburgh. After arrest, most witches were tried within a matter of days but not Agnes. Her unusual case took months with weeks of deliberation of the jury. Mary explains why and gives her expert insight into the political and religious tensions that led to her burning.The book will interest a variety of readers, academics and non-academics alike – those interested in witchcraft, British and Scottish history, religious studies and women’s studies.Mary Craig works as a historian with museums, archives and schools and hosts regular, well-attended events on the subject of witchcraft in the Scottish Borders. We expect strong media coverage. The Witches of Scotland campaign has recently gained traction and the attention of first minister Nicola Sturgeon, calling for a pardon and apology to those accused during the witch hunts.Trade ReviewThanks to King James VI’s legacy and staunch efforts at eliminating witchcraft in Scotland, it would be dangerous to be a woman accused of witchcraft for centuries thereafter. Craig investigates one peculiar case of Agnes Finnie, a shopkeeper and money lender who underwent a month-long trial before being convicted. The long bibliography proves how much research Craig put into this account yet her engaging narrative writing style makes it almost feel as if you’re reading a novel. – SCOTTISH FIELDPraise for Borders Witch HuntShe takes an interesting and holistic view of this turbulent time in Scottish history. A fascinating read. – KENNY SMITH on Borders Witch HuntIt’s a particularly juicy bite of Scottish social history. – SCOTLAND MAGAZINE on Borders Witch Hunt

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Book SynopsisHow did popular and elite beliefs about the next world, and about supernatural forces in this world, change and develop as a result of the Reformation?Trade Review‘Invisible Worlds offers convincing proof of the central role played by conceptions of the supernatural and the afterlife in the religious upheavals of the early modern period . . . Peter Marshall’s work is indispensable reading for anyone who desires to understand the intellectual and spiritual shaping of early modern England and of the Western imagination as well.’ * Carlos Eire, Professor of History and Religious Studies, Yale University *‘With characteristic elegance and subtlety, Peter Marshall . . . shows how pastoral imperative sometimes bowed to popular belief, and how, simultaneously, Protestantism sowed the seeds of scepticism about the supernatural. Full of intriguing insights, Invisible Worlds will be warmly welcomed by scholars, students and general readers alike.’ * Alexandra Walsham, Professor of Modern History, University of Cambridge *Table of ContentsPART 1: HEAVEN, HELL AND PURGATORY: HUMANS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD 1. After Purgatory: Death and Remembrance in the Reformation World 2. 'The Map of God's Word': Geographies of the Afterlife in Tudor and Early Stuart England' 3. Judgment and Repentance in Tudor Manchester: The Celestial Journey of Ellis Hall 4. The Reformation of Hell? Protestant and Catholic Infernalisms, c. 1560-1640 5. The Company of Heaven: Identity and Sociability in the English Protestant Afterlife PART 2: ANGELS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES: SPIRITS IN THE HUMAN WORLD 6. Angels Around the Deathbed: Variations on a Theme in the English Art of Dying 7. The Guardian Angel in Protestant England 8. Deceptive Appearances: Ghosts and Reformers in Elizabethan and Jacobean England 9. Piety and Poisoning in Restoration Plymouth 10. Transformations of the Ghost Story in Post-Reformation England 11. Ann Jeffries and the Fairies: Folk Belief and the War on Scepticism

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Book SynopsisExamines the most successful institution of social discipline in Reformation Europe: the Consistory of Geneva during the time of John Calvin Created by John Calvin, the Consistory of Geneva was a quasi-tribunal entrusted with enforcing Reformed morality. Comprised of pastors and elders, this body met weekly and summoned people for a wide range of "sinful" behavior, such as drunkenness, dancing, blasphemy, or simply quarrels, and was a far more intrusive institution than the Catholic Inquisition. Among the thousands summoned during Calvin's ministry were a pair of women who were allegedly prophets, boys who skipped catechism to practice martial arts, and a good number of people begging for forgiveness for having renounced Protestantism out of fear of death. This superbly researched book, reflecting author Jeffrey Watt's career-long involvement in the ongoing project of transcribing, editing, and publishing the Consistory records, is the first comprehensive examination of this morals court and provides a window into the reception of the Reformation in the so-called Protestant Rome. Watt examines the role of the Consistory in upholding patriarchy, showing that while Genevan authorities did not have a double standard in prosecuting illicit sexuality, the Consistory exhorted women to obey even violently abusive husbands. He finds also that Calvin and his colleagues vigorously promoted a strong work ethic by censuring people, mostly men, for laziness, and showed a surprising degree of skepticism toward accusations of witchcraft. Finally, Watt demonstrates convincingly that, while the Consistory encountered some resistance, Genevans by and large shared the ideals it promoted and that it enjoyed considerable success in fostering discipline in Genevan society. This book is openly available in digital formats, under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC, thanks to a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Table of ContentsAbbreviations and Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction The Consistory Encounters Resistance The Push for Religious Uniformity Educating and Disciplining the Young Controlling Lust and Regulating Marriage Superstitions, Magic, and Witchcraft Promoting the Industrious and Sober Lifestyle Conflicts, Reconciliation, and the Confession of Sins Conclusion Selected Bibliography Notes

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Book SynopsisIn nineteenth-century Britain few cities could rival Liverpool for recorded drunkenness. Civic pride at Liverpool’s imperial influence was undercut by anxieties about social problems that could all be connected to alcohol, from sectarian unrest and prostitution in the city’s streets to child neglect and excess mortality in its slums. These dangers, heightened in Liverpool by the apparent connections between the drink trade and the city’s civic elite, marked urban living and made alcohol a pressing political issue. As a temperance movement emerged to tackle the dangers of drink, campaigners challenged policy makers to re-imagine the acceptable reach of government. While national leaders often failed to agree on what was practically and philosophically palatable, social reformers in Liverpool focused on the system that licensed the sale of drink in the city’s pubs and beerhouses. By reforming licensing, they would later boast, Liverpool had tackled its reputation as the drunkenness capital of England. The Licensed City reveals just how battles over booze have made the modern city. As such, it confronts whether licensing is equipped to regulate today’s problem drinking.Trade ReviewReviews 'A scholarly and well-argued book based upon a wealth of excellent research' John Greenaway, University of East Anglia'Although focused on one city the book provides a firm basis for understanding the improved public house movement and Gothenburg system of disinterested management. Both of which were to have national significance, with the former in particular being driven by the growth of the larger breweries, especially in the midlands...The depth of analysis sets a much appreciated higher bar for future work in the field. For anyone wishing to study the issues raised it is a most welcome addition to the literature.' Brewery History Society Journal'A ground-breaking study of how alcohol-licensing practices have shaped (and continue to shape) our urban communities.'Edward Wilson-Lee, Sidney Sussex College, Times Higher Education 'The Licensed City makes a significant contribution to the historical study of alcohol and social control. By focusing on Liverpool, the author allows for a considerable in-depth analysis into how perceptions of alcohol consumption have impacted the socio-political landscape of this city. These findings would be pertinent for future research into the history of social control and alcohol licensing in other towns and cities.'Law, Crime, and History'The questions with which Beckingham engages, such as that of the tension between individual freedom on the one hand and the perceived need for restriction on the other, or of the response which civic authorities made to the problems thrown up by the growth of cities, are challenging ones. Nonetheless, they are subjects with which he deals in a readable way and a non-specialist reader is guided through developments clearly. This book is warmly recommended.' Paul Jennings, The Local Historian'This massively documented book is more than a local history of drink ... Beckingham disposes of several myths (for instance, that the impoverished Irish were responsible for most of the drinking) and explains the limitations of the police statistics that shape elite opinion ... Recommended.'D. M. Fahey, CHOICE'In The Licensed City, David Beckingham explores the municipal licensing of drinking establishments in the 19th Century British city of Liverpool to bring a fascinating, nuanced perspective on urban historical and political geography… the book is meticulously researched and referenced. An impressive range of local and national archives is used. The amount of material synthesized for this historiography is truly impressive. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page to make more lateral and non-linear reading of the text easy. This research is the culmination of many years of meticulous, thoughtful and intrepid scholarship. ... an excellent book.'Michael Brown, Social and Cultural GeographyTable of Contents1 Liverpool: The making of a licensed city 2 Liberty on licence 3 Between teetotalism and free trade: The rise of temperance politics in Liverpool 4 Mapping drink: The spatial logic of social reform 5 Attacking the licensing system: The 'twin evils' of drunkenness and prostitution 6 Women and the public house 7 The reformed licensing system: Slum clearance and social reform 8 ' Liverpool's temperance lesson to the nation'? The challenge of compensation 9 The licensed city at war 10 Conclusions: Liberalism's local logic

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Book SynopsisThe title, Rediscovering Joy, derives from Galatians 4:15 (NLT). The Galatians had lost the joy of God’s blessing because they had departed from the truths of the gospel. The Reformation - and the book - is an invitation to rediscover the joy of the gospel. Despite the common claim that the Reformation is either out-dated or divisive, its rediscovery of the apostolic message was a rediscovery of joy - a message that is as relevant today as it was 500 years ago and 2,000 years ago. The book has a strong focus on biblical exposition and pastoral application.Trade Review‘easy-to-read’, ‘a great book to share with a friend’, ‘If you’re only going to read one Christian book this summer, make this the one!’ * Evangelicals Now *new insight into familiar passages a hugely helpful book * Premier Christianity *Table of Contents1. How to hear God's voice - Galatians 1 Reformation link: Scripture alone 2. How to win God's approval - Galatians 2 Reformation link: justification by faith alone through Christ alone 3. How to recognise God's people - Galatians 3 & 4:21-31 Reformation link: the marks of a true church 4. How to enjoy God's love - Galatians 4 Reformation link: the work of the Spirit 5. How to do God's will - Galatians 5-6 Reformation link: gospel virtue

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Book SynopsisFounded in 1961, Studia Hibernica is devoted to the study of the Irish language and its literature, Irish history and archaeology, Irish folklore and place names, and related subjects. Its aim is to present the research of scholars in these fields of Irish studies and so to bring them within easy reach of each other and the wider public. It endeavours to provide in each issue a proportion of articles, such as surveys of periods or theme in history or literature, which will be of general interest. A long review section is a special feature of the journal and all new publications within its scope are there reviewed by competent authorities.Table of ContentsAilt Thaighde/Research Articles Catherine Swift: An investigation of the word oireachtas in modern and medieval Ireland and its economic role in earlier periods Peter Smith: An historical tract in Irish relating to the confederate wars in Ireland Karina Holton: A turbulent year: Lord Anglesey’s first viceroyalty and the politics of Catholic emancipation, 1828 Richard Sharpe: Destruction of Irish manuscripts and The National Board of Education Ailt Léirmheasa/Review Articles Nicholas M. Wolf: Historical and linguistic research on the Irish language Stephen H. Harrison: The Vikings in Ireland and beyond: new research and new directions? Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisIn nineteenth-century Britain few cities could rival Liverpool for recorded drunkenness. Civic pride at Liverpool’s imperial influence was undercut by anxieties about social problems that could all be connected to alcohol, from sectarian unrest and prostitution in the city’s streets to child neglect and excess mortality in its slums. These dangers, heightened in Liverpool by the apparent connections between the drink trade and the city’s civic elite, marked urban living and made alcohol a pressing political issue. As a temperance movement emerged to tackle the dangers of drink, campaigners challenged policy makers to re-imagine the acceptable reach of government. While national leaders often failed to agree on what was practically and philosophically palatable, social reformers in Liverpool focused on the system that licensed the sale of drink in the city’s pubs and beerhouses. By reforming licensing, they would later boast, Liverpool had tackled its reputation as the drunkenness capital of England. The Licensed City reveals just how battles over booze have made the modern city. As such, it confronts whether licensing is equipped to regulate today’s problem drinking.Trade ReviewReviews 'A scholarly and well-argued book based upon a wealth of excellent research' John Greenaway, University of East Anglia'Although focused on one city the book provides a firm basis for understanding the improved public house movement and Gothenburg system of disinterested management. Both of which were to have national significance, with the former in particular being driven by the growth of the larger breweries, especially in the midlands...The depth of analysis sets a much appreciated higher bar for future work in the field. For anyone wishing to study the issues raised it is a most welcome addition to the literature.' Brewery History Society Journal'A ground-breaking study of how alcohol-licensing practices have shaped (and continue to shape) our urban communities.'Edward Wilson-Lee, Sidney Sussex College, Times Higher Education 'The Licensed City makes a significant contribution to the historical study of alcohol and social control. By focusing on Liverpool, the author allows for a considerable in-depth analysis into how perceptions of alcohol consumption have impacted the socio-political landscape of this city. These findings would be pertinent for future research into the history of social control and alcohol licensing in other towns and cities.'Law, Crime, and History'The questions with which Beckingham engages, such as that of the tension between individual freedom on the one hand and the perceived need for restriction on the other, or of the response which civic authorities made to the problems thrown up by the growth of cities, are challenging ones. Nonetheless, they are subjects with which he deals in a readable way and a non-specialist reader is guided through developments clearly. This book is warmly recommended.' Paul Jennings, The Local Historian'This massively documented book is more than a local history of drink ... Beckingham disposes of several myths (for instance, that the impoverished Irish were responsible for most of the drinking) and explains the limitations of the police statistics that shape elite opinion ... Recommended.'D. M. Fahey, CHOICE'In The Licensed City, David Beckingham explores the municipal licensing of drinking establishments in the 19th Century British city of Liverpool to bring a fascinating, nuanced perspective on urban historical and political geography… the book is meticulously researched and referenced. An impressive range of local and national archives is used. The amount of material synthesized for this historiography is truly impressive. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page to make more lateral and non-linear reading of the text easy. This research is the culmination of many years of meticulous, thoughtful and intrepid scholarship. ... an excellent book.'Michael Brown, Social and Cultural GeographyTable of Contents1 Liverpool: The making of a licensed city 2 Liberty on licence 3 Between teetotalism and free trade: The rise of temperance politics in Liverpool 4 Mapping drink: The spatial logic of social reform 5 Attacking the licensing system: The 'twin evils' of drunkenness and prostitution 6 Women and the public house 7 The reformed licensing system: Slum clearance and social reform 8 ' Liverpool's temperance lesson to the nation'? The challenge of compensation 9 The licensed city at war 10 Conclusions: Liberalism's local logic

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Book SynopsisMetaphern haben für die Rede von Christus im Neuen Testament und in der Theologiegeschichte eine besondere Bedeutung. Untersucht werden hier Formen und Funktionen metaphorischer Christologie im Neuen Testament, die Christusmetaphorik in der Spätantike, in der Mystik Taulers, bei Luther und im 19. Jahrhundert. Systematische Beiträge erörtern die Rede von Christus als "Wort Gottes", das Verhältnis von Metapher und Erfahrung sowie Grundprobleme der Metaphorizität christologischer Rede. Thematisiert werden auch Christusmetaphern in der Lyrik und die Bedeutung der Metaphorik für die Rede von Christus im Religionsunterricht. Table of ContentsI. METAPHORISCHE CHRISTOLOGIE IM NEUEN TESTAMENTMit Beiträgen von Kurt Erlemann, Jens Schroeter, Peter Müller, Ruben Zimmermann, Martin Karrer und Jörg Frey. II. METAPHORIK UND CHRISTOLOGIE IN DER KIRCHEN- UND THEOLOGIEGESCHICHTEMit Beiträgen von Martin Wallraff, Volker Leppin, Jens Wolff, Vladimir Ivanov und Jan Rohls. III. SYSTEMATISCHE PERSPEKTIVEN ZUR CHRISTOLOGISCHEN METAPHORIZITÄTMit Beiträgen von Hermann Timm, Ulrich H. J. Körtner, Jörg Lauster, Markus Buntfuß und Philipp Stoellger . IV. WIRKUNG UND PRODUKTION CHRISTOLOGISCHER METAPHERNMit Beiträgen von Johannes Rauchenberger, Christina Hoe-gen-Rohls, Klaas Huizing und Gerhard Büttner. Mit Bibelstellen- und Namenregister.

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Book SynopsisDiese erste Monographie zu Luthers Lehre von der creatio ex nihilo zeigt den umfassenden Charakter seiner Interpretation der Formel, betont ihre Gegenwartsbedeutung und fragt nach theologischen und philosophischen Hintergründen. Spricht eine Schöpfung aus dem Nichts auch gegen jede Logik und Erfahrung, so zeigt der Verfasser ausgehend von Luthers Großer Genesisvorlesung, dass die Formel für Luther weder das kausale "Woher" der Schöpfung benennt noch das naturwissenschaftliche "Wie" ihrer Entstehung: Sie beantwortet vielmehr die Frage nach dem Verhältnis von Schöpfer und Geschöpf - in Schöpfung, Erhaltung und Neuschöpfung. Die Formel creatio ex nihilo ist damit keine periphere Bestimmung göttlichen Handelns, sondern Grundmatrix seines Umgangs mit Mensch und Welt.Trade Review"This outstanding study of Luther's theology of creatio ex nihilo - the first monograph on this topic - offers a comprehensive interpretation of this central but neglected theme, combining remarkable erudition with appreciation for the scope and significance of Luther's thought. This is scholarship of the first rank: highly recommended." Prof. Dr. John Webster, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford "To be created out of nothing is to be nothing without God. Dr. Schwanke's Dissertation shows how important this is for Luther and the Doctrine of Grace. His work is impressive and should provoke friendly discussion." Sir Henry Chadwick, Regius Professor em. of Divinity, of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge"

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Book SynopsisDie grundlegende Monographie über das Gebet bei Luther hat als Quellenbasis Luthers bislang in der Forschung als Ganze wenig beachtete dritte Psalmenvorlesung. Sie wird als ein gleichsam interaktiver, rechtfertigungstheologisch verankerter Dank- und Bittgebetsvollzug erfasst. Ihre Pointe erhält die Arbeit durch die thematische Fokussierung auf die von Luther im programmatischen ersten Satz benannten Gebetsakte des Lobens und Dankens. Es wird plausibel, dass die Vorrangstellung des Lob- und Dankgebets vor dem Bittgebet rechtfertigungstheologisch begründet ist. Die Arbeit eröffnet mit ihrer speziellen Verfahrenstechnik einen neuen Zugang zur Theologie Luthers und beansprucht nicht weniger als gesamttheologische Relevanz.

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Book SynopsisMit Hilfe des kulturanthropologischen Verständnisses von einer ‚Ökonomie der Gabe‘ (Reziprozität) wird anhand von Texten Martin Luthers - vor allem aus den Jahren zwischen 1518 und 1522 - gezeigt, wie dessen Rechtfertigungslehre ohne einen Gedanken der wieder etablierten Gegenseitigkeit zwischen Gott und Mensch gar nicht formulierbar ist. Luthers neu gewonnenes Verständnis von Gegenseitigkeit ist die Voraussetzung für sein positives Verständnis vom Christenmenschen und für seine häufige Parallelisierung von Christologie und Anthropologie.

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Book SynopsisLuthers Neufassung der Christologie als deren Zuspitzung auf die Lehre von der Idiomenkommunikation wird in diesem Sammelband in ihren historischen wie systematischen Dimensionen ausgelotet: Historisch stehen neben traditionsgeschichtlicher Hintergrundsanalyse breite rezeptionsgeschichtliche Untersuchungen zur Spätreformation und Orthodoxie, systematisch wird nicht nur die zugrunde liegende Metapherntheorie, sondern auch die Tragfähigkeit der Gesamtkonzeption thematisiert.Table of ContentsOswald Bayer: Das Wort ward Fleisch. Luthers Christologie als Lehre von der Idiomenkommunikation; Benjamin Gleede: Christologie als Idiomenkommunikationslehre? Einige Überlegungen zum Traditionshintergrund von Luthers christologischen Disputationen; Gottfried Seebass: Zum Hintergrund der christologischen Disputation Luthers von 1540/43; Anna Vind: "Christus factus est peccatum metaphorice." Über die theologische Verwendung rhetorischer Figuren bei Luther unter Einbeziehung Quintilians; Paul Hinlicky: Luther's Anti-Docetism in the Disputatio de divinitate et humanitat Christi (1540); Jörg Baur: ‚Ubiquität'. Luthers zentrale christologische Einsicht und ihre wechselhafte Rezeptionsgeschichte bis zur Mitte des siebzehnten Jahrhunderts.

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Book SynopsisThe groundbreaking biography of one of the most progressive, influential and entertaining women of the seventeenth century, Christina Alexandra, Queen of Sweden.Trade Review‘A stunning debut and an absorbing page-turner. Veronica Buckley writes with immense style, vitality and great humanity. As compelling as the most riveting of novels.' Alison Weir ‘Her book is much less a debut than the highly polished work of a writer who has been thinking about and loving her subject for years, and her enjoyment in the writing of Queen Christina’s life is wonderfully translated into our pleasure in reading it.’ Stella Tillyard, Sunday Times ‘Veronica Buckley has a flair for description and relates this extraordinary life with sympathy and engaging panache.’ John Adamson, Sunday Telegraph ‘This is a splendidly robust and colourful account of a remarkable woman and the turbulent age in which she lived. Astonishingly, this is Veronica Buckley’s first book. May she write many more.’ Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisDer Sammelband bietet einen facettenreichen Überblick über fünf Jahrhunderte Hamburger Kultur- und Christentumsgeschichte und ordnet zugleich die lokalgeschichtlichen Aspekte in die übergreifenden mentalitätsgeschichtlichen Entwicklungen ein. Die Beiträge spannen einen Bogen von der Reformationszeit über das konfessionelle Zeitalter und dasjenige der Aufklärung bis hinein in das 20. Jahrhundert. Besonderes Augenmerk liegt dabei auf der Kultur der Gelehrsamkeit am Hamburger Akademischen Gymnasium im 17./18. Jahrhundert (J.A. Fabricius, J.Chr. Wolf, H.S. Reimarus), der Debatte zwischen Lessing und Johann Melchior Goeze im Rahmen des sog. Fragmentenstreits, der Gründungsgeschichte der Hamburger Theologischen Fakultät und der Bedeutung des Wirkens Helmut Thielickes sowie der Missionswissenschaft als eines Hamburger Propriums. Zudem enthält der Band innovative Studien zur Hamburger Erweckungsbewegung (Sieveking/Averdieck) sowie zu Johann Hinrich Wichern. Ein programmatischer Beitrag zur Standortbestimmung der wissenschaftlichen Theologie im universitären Kontext angesichts der voranschreitenden Säkularisierung richtet den Blick in die Zukunft. Ein detailliertes Verzeichnis sämtlicher in Hamburg Promovierter (380 Personen) sowie aller Ehrendoktoren beschließt den Band.Table of ContentsTraugott Koch, "Der Ehrbaren Stadt Hamburg Christliche Ordnung" durch Johann Bugenhagen (1529) · Anne Steinmeier, "Wo bist Du, Gott? Wer bin ich Mensch?" Eine Theologie der Seelsorge im Sterben der Pest (Philipp Nicolai [1556-1608]) · Ralph Häfner, Literaturwissenschaft und Physikotheologie: Der Hamburger Gelehrte Johann Albert Fabricius (1668-1736) · Andreas Großmann, Barthold Hinrich Brockes (1680-1747) und das Hamburger Passionsoratorium · Martin Mulsow, Johann Christoph Wolf (1683-1739) und die verbotenen Bücher in Hamburg · Johann Anselm Steiger, Ist es denn ein Wunder? Die aufgeklärte Wunderkritik. Oder: Von Spinoza zu Reimarus · Gerhard Freund, Ein Trojaner. Lessings Reimarus-Fragmente als Anfrage an die zeitgenössische Theologie · Friedrich Vollhardt, Reimarus, Lessing und einige der Folgen · Hans-Martin Gutmann, Der Schatten der Liebe. Reflexionen zu Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-1881) · Inge Mager, Weibliche Theologie im Horizont der Hamburger Erweckung: Amalie Sieveking (1794-1859) und Elise Averdieck (1808-1907) · Rainer Hering, Die späte erste Fakultät. Vom Allgemeinen Vorlesungswesen zum Fachbereich Evangelische Theologie · Theodor Ahrens, Missionswissenschaft in Hamburg als Zeitansage. Carl Mirbt - Walter Freytag - Hans Jochen Margull · Michael Moxter, Menschwerdung zwischen Natur und Interpretation. Eine Erinnerung an die Anthropologie Helmut Thielickes (1908-1986) · Christian Herrmann, Postlapsarische Schöpfungslehre und Ethik. Zur Systematisierung des Kompromisses in der theologischen Ethik Helmut Thielickes · Jörg Dierken, Restauration - Säkularisierung - Pluralismus. Theologie als Universitätswissenschaft angesichts religionskultureller Veränderungen · Fünfzig Jahre Hamburger theologische Promotionen. Bearbeitet von Inge Mager

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Stuart dynasty is a breathless soap opera played out in just a hundred years in an array of buildings that span Europe from Scotland, via Denmark, Holland and Spain to England.Life in the court of the House of Stuart has been shrouded in mystery: the first half of the century overshadowed by the fall and execution of Charles I, the second half in the complete collapse of the House itself. Lost to time is the extraordinary contribution the Stuarts made to the fabric of sovereignty.Every palace they built, painting they commissioned, or artwork they acquired was a direct reflection of the lives that they led and the way that they thought. Palaces of Revolution explores this rich history in graphic detail, giving a unique insight into the lives of this famous dynasty. It takes us from Royston and Newmarket, where James I appropriated most of the town centre as a sort of rough-and-ready royal housing estate, to the steamy Turkish baths at Whitehall where Charles II seducedTrade Review‘Simon Thurley may be congratulated on a splendid achievement, which serves several different branches of history at once, as well as those who appreciate a clear and lively literary style … An important addition to knowledge’ Ronald Hutton, Times Literary Supplement ‘A hugely impressive, readable book that covers its broad canvas with assurance … Thoughtfully illustrated and furnished with plans of the buildings, itself a huge accomplishment.’ John Goodall, Country Life ‘In his admirably readable new book, Simon Thurley, who probably knows more about the palaces of the 16th and 17th centuries than anyone alive, has written a chronological survey of the royal residences of the Stuarts, a period of just over 100 years. You almost can read it as an alternative history of the dynasty … Lively and authoritative’ Andrew Taylor, The Times ‘Palaces of Revolution is far more than just a history book … The author’s knowledge … is unprecedented, elevating the historical survey into an alternative reading of the Stuart Dynasty … one only has to read this book to hear the walls talking. From secret seductions to fierce fighting, Thurley writes with great detail, invigorating the historical narratives we know and presenting new stories’ The Scottish Field ‘There can be few as well-placed to write about the buildings associated with the Stuart monarchy as Simon Thurley … This book – engagingly written and beautifully illustrated – is a comprehensive account of those achievements, and of the role that buildings played in the political life of early modern Britain.’ Historic House magazine ‘The culmination of nearly 30 years of research, [Palaces of Revolution] takes us back in time to bring these “hollow citadels of ceremony” and those who occupied them to life once again.’ Apollo

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Book Synopsis A fundamental work on the use of scripture for decoration and furnishing in Protestant churches Inventory of text use in Calvinist Churches in the Dutch provinces between ca 1575-1800 The visual display of Scripture became common in Dutch Calvinist churches after the "Beeldenstorm": text panels and text paintings filled the lacunas left by removed images and altars. This richly illustrated volume shows how text decoration marked the Reformed appropriation of church space. This book shows how text decoration evolved into an innovative form of Reformed visual culture after iconoclasm, and was used to transform church spaces to accommodate Reformed worship. A story of continuity throughout the Reformation appears in the pre-Reformation roots of designs and spatial arrangements of displayed texts, beyond evident and major change. The work is based on a comprehensive inventory of text panels and text paintings installed in churches throughout the Dutch provinces between ca 1575–1800. A North Sea perspective presents text decoration as a universal Protestant phenomenon, which took different forms according to the liturgical and dogmatic requirements of denominations: from English Ten Commandments boards, and catechism altarpieces in churches in the Lutheran Danish Kingdom, to Lutheran text altarpieces that showcase the presence of Calvinism in northwest Germany.

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Book SynopsisBeacon Lights of History is a 14-volume set first published in 1902. This collection of John Lords lectures spans 6,000 years of European and American history. The first 12 volumes are all Lords work; the 13th was completed from his notes and the 14th is follow-ups by other authors.

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Book SynopsisT Thomas Kaufmann untersucht die Publikationen der sogenannten "Herrgotts Kanzlei", die in der Zeit der Interimskrise in Magdeburg über 400 Drucke produzierte und so den einzigen wirksamen Widerstand gegen die Religionspolitik Karls V. artikulierte. Sie hat deshalb für die Deutung der lutherischen Reformation und deren interner Pluralisierung eine historische Schlüsselrolle inne.Ausgehend von einer Rekonstruktion des protestantischen 'Erinnerungsortes' "Herrgotts Kanzlei", der insbesondere durch Wilhelm Raabes gleichnamigen Roman große Popularität erlangte, werden die infrastrukturellen Voraussetzungen, vor allem die Drucker, vorgestellt, das Material kategorisiert und in literarischer, publikationsstrategischer und theologischer Perspektive quantitativ und qualitativ analysiert. Der Autor stellt die Voraussetzungen des Projektes der antiinterimistischen Publizistik in der Magdeburger Reformationsgeschichte und die Haltung des Rates dar und beschreibt ihre rechtshistorischen Bedingungen. Die Basis der Studie bildet eine im Anhang publizierte Bibliographie, die erstmals das gesamte Druckschaffen der Magdeburger Offizinen in der Zeit der Interimskrise zuverlässig dokumentiert. Die gesamte Tätigkeit der Magdeburger Publizisten steht unter dem Vorzeichen einer dramatisch zugespitzten apokalyptischen Naherwartung. Von hier aus fällt ein neues Licht auf den Vorgang der Reformation als ganzen.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents the papers given at a symposion in 2009 in Berlin which marked the 450th anniversary of the Elizabethan Settlement. The authors examine the history of the Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire and England side-by-side with an eye to their interdependence. It is the first endeavour of its kind to which specialists from Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, and the USA have joined hands.Aspects of the theme considered here include the ways in which knowledge of and influence from the Reformation in the Empire reached England, theological and liturgical contributions, the political dimension of Reformations exchanges, and the manner in which the Reformation was consolidated on the one side by the peace of Augsburg and on the other by the Elizabethan Settlement.

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Book SynopsisThe authors of this volume deal with the similarities and differences between the Reformation in England and in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in regard to Christian ethics. Although it was understood by all sides that ethics was part of the Christian life, its place in theology was a matter of dispute, not only between the Reformation and its opponents but also among the various schools of thought in the Reformation. The articles in this volume deal with answers given by advocates of the Reformation in England and in Germany to the question of the theological place of ethics, and in addition with decisions and behavioral maxims here and there, such as for example ethics of law, the economy, war or diplomacy.

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Book SynopsisDie Bedeutung des Buchdrucks für die Geschichte der Reformation ist allgemein anerkannt. Basel zählte europaweit zu den wichtigsten Druckorten. Aber auch als Ort der Begegnung und der Zuflucht und als Ort, von dem aus weitverzweigte Korrespondenznetze gespannt wurden, hatte die Stadt am Oberrhein in der Reformationszeit Gewicht. Dieser Tagungsband dokumentiert die Geschichte des geistigen Raums im frühen 16. Jahrhundert. In diese Geschichte werden Beiträge über Erasmus und seine Rezeption, über den ersten Sammelband mit Werken Luthers, über Bucer und Oekolampad, Beatus Rhenanus und Oswald Myconius, über Täufer, italienische Nonkonformisten und die Ausstrahlung Basels nach England wie auch nach Ungarn einbezogen.

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Book SynopsisSeit seinen Anfängen hat der Islam das Interesse christlicher Autoren auf sich gezogen. In diesem Zusammenhang kommt der Reformationszeit eine erhebliche Bedeutung für die christliche Islamwahrnehmung zu.Der Umgang der Reformatoren mit dem Islam lässt sich durch die Kurzformel "Islam und Identitätspolitik" auf den Punkt bringen. Denn sie funktionalisierten die militärischen Erfolge der von ihnen "Türken" genannten Osmanen, um ihre eigene Abgrenzung von der altgläubigen Mehrheitsgesellschaft argumentativ zu unterstützen.Malte van Spankeren analysiert anhand von Ph. Melanchthon, H. Zwingli und J. Jonas erstmals auf Grund einer aussagekräftigen Quellenbasis, mit welchen Argumenten der Islam als Mittel der Distanzierung eingesetzt wurde, auf welche Weise eigene theologische Positionsbildungen mithilfe der "Türkenfrage" pointiert wurden und welche, die protestantische Islamwahrnehmung langfristig prägenden, Schwerpunkte dabei ausgebildet worden sind. Damit leistet er einen weiterführenden Beitrag zur Geschichte der christlich-muslimischen Beziehungen, und führt zugleich den Begriff der "Identitätspolitik" in die kirchengeschichtliche Forschung neu ein.

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Book SynopsisNiels Hemmingsen (1513-1600) is one of the most influential Danish theologians in history. As a professor at the University of Copenhagen, Hemmingsen played an important role in moulding Danish society according to his understanding of Lutheranism during the second half of the sixteenth century. Drawing on sociology of knowledge, cultural memory, and confessional culture, Mattias Skat Sommer examines Hemmingsen's works and life in political and theological contexts. By studying Hemmingsen's role in forming a discourse of social interaction, the author argues that Hemmingsen was the leading agent in shaping post-Reformation Danish confessionalization. In doing so, Sommer emphasises the fluid boundaries of the Danish Reformation and adjusts two prominent theoretical frameworks discussed in contemporary research on early modern Europe, namely those of confessionalization and confessional culture.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents important essays by Susan C. Karant-Nunn for the first time in collected form. The essays deal with the social and cultural change triggered by the Reformation and investigate its influence on gender relations, rituals, and emotions. Often in critical dialogue with sociological and anthropological theories, but at the same time very close to the sources, the author analyses how the religious change of the Reformation was implemented in practice, what problems arose in the process, and how the diverse early modern living environments changed as a result of the Reformation.

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Book SynopsisDer zweite Band mit Aufsätzen von Dorothea Wendebourg präsentiert Forschungen aus ihren Jahren an der Theologischen Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Wegen seiner Bedeutung für die Forschungsdiskussion wurde auch ein älterer Beitrag zur Reformation aufgenommen. Kennzeichnend für die wissenschaftliche Arbeit der Verfasserin ist die Weite des zeitlichen Horizonts von der Reformation bis zur Gegenwart und die Breite der räumlichen Erstreckung von Griechenland bis England. Im Mittelpunkt steht die deutsche Kirchengeschichte, und zwar die Reformation mit ihren Folgewirkungen, insbesondere was Kirche, Gottesdienst und kirchliches Amt betrifft.

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Book SynopsisThis book does not only deal with the history, but also with the effects of the Reformation over the mentality, education and scientifical research among Hungarians during the last five centuries. The spirit of the Reformation has not only been a church-forming factor, but also a force of nation-building and salvation. This volume includes 17 studies of Hungarian Reformed theologians presented at a conference in November 2016. The main goal was to give an overview of the most recent research results in history and theology regarding Reformation and its effects over society and mentality among Hungarians. The contributors come from various Hungarian theological universities from the Carpathian basin, thus the book is an overview of their research topics and results. The City Cluj-Napoca was, became and remained an important center of the Reformation, as significant events took place in its surroundings as well. The Faculty of Reformed Theology of the Babeș-Bolyai University and the Protestant Theological Institute has always functioned in an environment, where the challenges of multi-confessionalism and multiethnicity are also present beside interdisciplinarity.

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Book SynopsisThe contributors to this volume examine the complex and dynamic role that Protestant majorities and minorities played in shaping the Reformations of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In doing so, it offers an important perspective on the range of intellectual, social, economic, political, theological and ecclesiological factors that governed intra- and inter-confessional encounter in the early modern period. While the principal focus is on the situation of different Protestant majority and minority groups, many of the contributions also engage the relation of Protestants and Catholics, with a number also considering early modern Christian dialogue with Muslims and Jews.The volume is organised into five sections, which together provide a comprehensive picture of Protestant majorities and minorities. The first section explores intellectual trajectories, especially those which promoted confessional unity or sought to break down confessional boundaries. The second section, taking the neglected Spanish Reformation as an important case-study, examines the clandestine aspect of minority activities and the efforts of majorities to control and suppress them. The third section pursues a similar theme but examines it through the lens of Flemish and Walloon Reformed refugee communities in Germany and the Netherlands, demonstrating the way in which confessional factors could lead to the integration or exclusion of minorities. The fourth section examines marginal or peripheral Reformations, whether geographically or doctrinally understood, focussing on attempts to implement reform in the shadow of the Ottoman Empire. Finally, the fifth section looks at confessional identity and otherness as a principal theme of majority and minority relations, providing both theoretical and practical frameworks for its evaluation.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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