by Jon M. Sweeney
I actually read this book a few months ago but realized I hadn't noted it here. Sweeney shows in this work how Dante's Inferno captured the imagination of 14th Century Europe and how that subsequently changed how people understood the concept of Hell. At the time readers understood the elements of criticism and satire, and reveled in that. Later generations began to interpret Dante's fictional imaginative work more literally, and the understanding of Hell gleaned from Dante's work far surpassed what is found in scripture. It is essentially Dante's Hell that people were frightened of at the time of the Reformation a couple of centuries later. An interesting read that gives better insight into Dante's work and its impact on European society.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Saturday, August 12, 2017
The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation
by Jon M. Sweeney
I started reading this while traveling through Europe this summer. It gave me a clearer understanding of the place of the popes in European society and politics in the era leading up to the protestant reformation. In the end we are left with more questions than answers as to why Pope Celestine V quit after being pope for only a few months. Regardless of motivation, the whole scenario as to how he became Pope in the first place, as well as other elements of medieval spirituality were explored in an engaging and informative manner.
I started reading this while traveling through Europe this summer. It gave me a clearer understanding of the place of the popes in European society and politics in the era leading up to the protestant reformation. In the end we are left with more questions than answers as to why Pope Celestine V quit after being pope for only a few months. Regardless of motivation, the whole scenario as to how he became Pope in the first place, as well as other elements of medieval spirituality were explored in an engaging and informative manner.
Monday, August 7, 2017
A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation: The True Story of the Movement that Created the Modern World
by Nick Page
This book was loaded into my Kobo for the trip to Europe this summer. It was a perfect read for the journey, both very informative, and very entertaining. Nick Page writes with a British sense of humour, a dry wit that pokes fun at pretension and resists the recitation of dull facts. Page covers the important people and events of the Reformation with a clear overview, so the information is covered well, even if done with occasional puns or modern cultural references. Highly recommended.
This book was loaded into my Kobo for the trip to Europe this summer. It was a perfect read for the journey, both very informative, and very entertaining. Nick Page writes with a British sense of humour, a dry wit that pokes fun at pretension and resists the recitation of dull facts. Page covers the important people and events of the Reformation with a clear overview, so the information is covered well, even if done with occasional puns or modern cultural references. Highly recommended.
The Reformation: Faith & Flames
by Andrew Atherstone
A well written overview of the Reformation made more attractive with great photos and artwork. Atherstone unfolds this tumultuous period of history deftly and comprehensively. He starts in Germany and concludes in the British Isles, including material on the religious wars provoked by the politics of religious freedom. I heard Atherstone lecture in Oxford and was impressed enough to pick up his book, I'm glad I did.
A well written overview of the Reformation made more attractive with great photos and artwork. Atherstone unfolds this tumultuous period of history deftly and comprehensively. He starts in Germany and concludes in the British Isles, including material on the religious wars provoked by the politics of religious freedom. I heard Atherstone lecture in Oxford and was impressed enough to pick up his book, I'm glad I did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)