General Description:

Characters of the Reformation may well be the most universally fascinating book ever written by the great Cathoic historian, Hilaire Belloc.  Here in bold, living colors he sketches 23 famous men and women of the Reformation period, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, mistakes and motives and pinpointing deeds that changed the course of history.

There are more than a few surprises here, as Belloc often puts the real responsibility for the Reformation on persons not usually appreciated by history.  He calls Ann Boleyn--not the weak-willed King Henry VIII--the "pivot figure" of the English Reformation, for it was her iron determination to be Queen, rather than merely a mistress, which launched the movement.  He describes the behind-the-scenes machinations of Thomas Cromwell, the man who looted and destroyed the English monasteries and "the true creator of the English Reformation."  Belloc also flatly contradicts the classic "Elizabethan myth," describing Elizabeth rather as the miserable puppet of William Cecil and a woman who never was able to do her own will in public life--and who in private life suffered the tragic disease of perversion in mind and body.  He shows how the crafty Cecil accomplished the seemingly impossible task of "digging up the Catholic Faith by the roots" and "crushing out the Mass from English soil."  He highlights the tragic error of Cardinal Richelieu in putting France before Catholicism and thus torpedoing Europe's last great chance of keeping Christendom united.  He describes the deaths of St. Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth I and Thomas Cranmer, showing the dramatic role played by Faith or heresy in each one's passing from this world.  He presents the harrowing dilemma of Pope Clement VII when confronted with Henry's demand for an illegitimate annulment--also, the strategy Clement used in meeting it.  Belloc gives the true facts about the much-maligned Mary Tudor (maliciously labeled "Bloody Mary") and the tragic Mary Stuart ("Queen of Scots"), plus he shows how Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal were heirs and abettors of the Protestant spirit.

Even those who think they do not like history will be unable to put this book down, for rather than discussing abstract "movements" and "forces," it describes the characters and deeds of real people, tracing the results of their greed, lust, tenacity, blindness, fear and--in the case of St. Thomas More--heroic Catholic constancy.  Characters of the Reformation brings to life a crucial era in history, a tragic era, an era that continues to have the profoundest effect on our world today.

St. Thomas More

Feast Day: Roman Rite Calendar - 06/22 Tridentine Calendar - 06/22 Patron Of: Adopted Children, Civil Servants, Court Workers, Difficult Marriages, Large Families, Lawyers, Politicians, Statesmen, Stepparents, Widowers Profile     Studied at London and Oxford. Page for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lawyer. Twice married, father of one son and three daughters, and a devoted family man. Writer. Friend of King Henry VIII. Lord Chancellor of England, a position of power second only to the king. Opposed the king on the matter of royal divorce, and refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy which declared the king the head of the Church in England. Resigned the Chancellorship, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Martyred for his refusal to bend his religious beliefs to the king's political needs.   Born     1478 at London, England Died     beheaded in 1535; head kept in the Roper Vault, Saint Dunstan's church, Canterbury, England; body at Saint Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, England Canonized     1935 by Pope Pius XI All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

 Other Customers Also Purchased

Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. III

How the Reformation Happened

 Browse For Similar Items In

• Catholic Books > History Books > Epic Timeline > Epic Timeline Further Reading > Session 13 and 14: Protestors and Defenders
• Catholic Books > Biographies / Autobios > Saints Books
• Catholic Books > Biographies / Autobios > Non-Saints Books
• Catholic Books > History Books > Protestant Revolution

A Tiber River reviewer hasn't written a review for this book yet.
Sign up as a Tiber River reviewer and see your review here!
(Apart from fame, you can also can get free stuff and gift certificates.)

Reviews:

Related Articles

1. Damien of Molokai - Priest of Heroic Kindness 11/02/2009

2. Msgr. Ronald Knox - Priest of Heroic Modesty 10/05/2009

3. Fr. Peter Whelan - Priest of Heroic Generosity 08/31/2009

4. Augustine Tolton - Priest of Heroic Patience 07/30/2009

5. Don Carlo Gnocchi - Priest of Heroic Kindness 06/18/2009

6. Fr. Vincent Capodanno - Priest of Heroic Virtue 06/01/2009

7. Our Lady of Fatima 02/26/2009

8. St. Anthony of Padua 02/26/2009

9. St. Mark the Evangelist 02/24/2009

10. St. Joseph 02/23/2009

11. St. Patrick 02/11/2009

12. The Meaning of Lent 01/21/2009

13. St. Valentine 01/16/2009

14. St. John Bosco 01/16/2009

15. St. Anthony the Great, Founder of Monasticism 01/14/2009

16. Archbishop Fulton Sheen 01/14/2009

17. St. Francis de Sales 01/06/2009

18. St. Thomas Aquinas 01/06/2009

19. The Conversion of Paul 12/17/2008

20. St. Agnes of Rome 12/17/2008

21. Pope St. Damasus I 12/02/2008

22. St. Jude Thaddeus 12/02/2008

23. Good King Wenceslas 11/25/2008

24. A Resource Guide to Books by Pope Benedict XVI 11/25/2008

25. St. Catherine of Alexandria 11/24/2008

26. St. Lucy 11/24/2008

27. St. Francis Xavier 11/24/2008

28. Saint Cecilia 11/21/2008

29. Christ the King Sunday 11/20/2008

30. Learn About the Church Fathers 11/13/2008

31. Devotion to the Saints 11/13/2008

32. St. Albert the Great 11/04/2008

33. St. Martin de Porres, the Saint of the Broom 10/24/2008

34. Monthly Dedications of the Church Year 10/24/2008

35. St. Josaphat Kuncevyc 10/21/2008

36. The Faith Database - A Resource for Every Catholic 10/17/2008

37. St. Teresa of Avila 10/14/2008

38. St. Margaret Mary and the Sacred Heart 10/14/2008

39. In Remembrance of Pope John Paul II 10/13/2008

40. Resources for the Year of St. Paul 10/13/2008

41. The Anniversary of Vatican Council II 10/10/2008

42. A Letter From Padre Pio 10/01/2008

43. Francis and Clare - A New Feature Film 10/01/2008

44. Mother Teresa's Secret Fire 10/01/2008

45. About the Battle of Lepanto 10/01/2008

46. St. Pio - Padre Pio - A Model for Our Times 09/22/2008

47. The Immaculate Conception: Patroness of the US 07/23/2008

48. About St. Bernadette 07/21/2008

49. The Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes 07/21/2008

50. The Real St. Nicholas 07/08/2008

51. The Conversion of St. Paul 07/03/2008

52. Why a Year of St. Paul? 07/02/2008

53. About the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls 07/02/2008

54. The Martyrdom of St. Paul 07/02/2008

55. About the Nativity of St. John the Baptist 06/20/2008

56. About St. Aloysius Gonzaga 06/19/2008

57. The Feast of St. Justin Martyr 05/31/2008

58. Feast of St. John Neumann 01/02/2008

59. Feast of St. Sylvester I, Pope 12/30/2007

60. Feast of the Holy Family 12/29/2007

61. Feast of St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr 12/28/2007

62. Feast of St. John the Evangelist 12/26/2007

63. Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 12/26/2007

64. Feast of St. Stephen, Martyr 12/24/2007

65. Feast of St. Basil the Great 12/21/2007

Have a comment about this product? Please let us know.

If you would like a reply, please include your email address.

The Product Description Is Incomplete The Product Description Is Wrong The Product Image Is Incorrect This Product Should Not Be Carried
Comments:


Enter the text above: