The Reformation which engulfed England & Europe in the sixteenth century was one of the most highly-charged bloody & transformative periods in their history & has remained one of the most contested In this dazzling book Diarmaid Mac Culloch explores a turbulent & endlessly fascinating era 'A masterly take on the Reformation absorbing & compelling full of insights' Linda Hogan Irish Times' One of our very best public historians as this collection triumphantly confirms Mac Culloch writes authoritatively & engagingly on a remarkably diverse range of topics in the history of Christian culture' Peter Marshall Literary Review' Written with elegance & sometimes donnish wit he wears his learning lightly' Robert Tombs The Times' Dazzling prodigiously learned Mac Culloch has a gift for explaining complicated things simply' Jack Scarisbrick Catholic Herald