A classic and comprehensive selection of documents, expertly presented by a leading historian and ideal for courses on the Reformation.
R Po-chia Hsia, University of Pennsylvania King's anthology could prove very useful in sparking debate between students of the Reformation. It is a good supplement to a historiographical study of Reformation thought, because it shows that the ... Read morepeople involved in the great religious upheaval of the early modern era cannot easily be simplified. It was a time of great diversity and depth of thought, when individuals took hold of their faith for themselves. King's anthology successfully re-creates this atmosphere. Angela Ranson, University of York, in Renaissance and Reformation Source readers can be interesting barometers of how certain fields have changed over the years. Margaret King's Reformation Thought is an intriguing case in point as it effectively illustrates how our understanding of the Reformation world has shifted in at least two significant ways. First is an expanded chronology. . . . The second distinctive feature is the determined effort on her part to include a broad range of voices. . . . Though there are a number of Reformation readers on the market today, King's volume is a welcome addition. Her selections are judicious, and the breadth that she offers distinguishes Reformation Thought from some of its competitors. . . . Finally, Hackett Publishing should be commended for their commitment to producing primary source anthologies at an attractive price point. Indeed, the price alone makes the volume well worth considering for any course on the Reformation world. Howard Louthan, University of Minnesota, in Journal of Jesuit Studies A highly approachable collection of selections both canonical (but not less important for that; one can't teach the Reformation without key texts from Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, et al.) and less well known. The latter textsfrom Mantova, Melancthon, Beza, Riedeman, Campion, Hoby, Pole, and othersare illuminating and useful in every case. The decision to carry the story to the late seventeenth and even eighteenth century and bring in the overseas perspective was an excellent one. King's characteristic ability to choose important piecesand translate and annotate them accurately and wellis on full display here. The introductions to the chapters and to the individual selections are well written and concise. Thomas Kuehn, Clemson University Show Less