This is an original and captivating work, with all the hallmarks of excellence we have come to expect of Derek Wilson, who is one of the finest historians of our times. This is an area few have explored, so this book is a valuable addition to sixteenth-century scholarship.
Alison Weir The Reformation (and Counter-Reformation) opened up new pathways, not only to heaven, but also for women in society. Mrs Luther and Her Sisters is a timely and absorbing study of the sometimes mutually beneficial relationship between women and the Reformation in early modern Europe - a fascinating parade of fierce and faithful ladies.”
Jessie Childs When we think of the Reformation the names that spring to mind are Martin Luther, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli, all men. We think of the women of the time as simply homemakers submitting to their husbands and not having any real role in the religious changes sweeping Europe in the 16th century, but renowned historian Derek Wilson corrects this view. Mrs Luther and Her Sisters combines Wilson's meticulous research with his gift for story-telling to bring the women of the Reformation out of the shadows and into the limelight. Women played crucial roles in the Reformation, as disseminators of new religious ideas, as prophets, as patrons, as educators, as founders of religious establishments, and also, unfortunately, as victims of religious persecution and as persecutors. The women of the Reformation had a huge impact on their society yet this has been overlooked until now. Bravo Derek Wilson!
Claire Ridgway