Life Writing in Reformation Europe
Lives of Reformers by Friends, Disciples and Foes
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:28th May '08
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This insightful exploration of biographies during the Reformation, Life Writing in Reformation Europe, reveals their influence on confessional rivalries and historical narratives.
The Reformation period was marked by a significant increase in the publication of biographies about contemporary religious figures. The book Life Writing in Reformation Europe delves into the key issues surrounding this trend, exploring how different confessions contributed to the development of reformers' images, particularly focusing on influential figures like Luther and Calvin. This examination highlights how these biographies were not merely historical accounts but also played a crucial role in the confessional rivalries that characterized Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
As the genre of biography evolved during this time, it served as a battleground for competing ideologies, with narratives either celebrating reformers as paragons of virtue or condemning them as heretics. In Life Writing in Reformation Europe, the author provides a comprehensive analysis of how these narratives shaped public perception and understanding of the Reformation. The book goes beyond a surface-level overview, addressing the intricate relationship between biography and the broader intellectual and cultural history of the period.
This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on the significance of Life writing but also examines the delicate balance authors sought to maintain in their representations of reformers. By highlighting the concept of 'Reformed hagiography,' the book invites readers to reconsider the historiography of confessional conflicts and the enduring impact of these narratives on our understanding of the Reformation era.
’There is much else to savor in this concise study, enlivened by many touches of straight-faced humor. Backus leads us from the world of Reformation polemic through to the beginnings of modern scientific history in the late seventeenth century, in a book of compelling interest and exemplary scholarship.’ Diarmaid MacCulloch, Biography ’...Backus provides the reader with a very thorough and stimulating entry into the Lives literature of the Reformation, which in turn provides further insight into larger questions of Wirkungsgeschichte in Reformation Europe.’ Erik Hermann, Catholic Historical Review ’Irena Backus displays her expert command of the ideas and texts of Reformation Europe in this important study of biographies of leading reformers.’ Archives ’The first full-length study of Life-writings of the Reformers by Irena Backus is a delightfully original integration of intellectual and cultural Reformation history. Backus’s easy mastery of primary source material once again confirms her established reputation in Reformation research... The book is ... a model for future research that integrates social and intellectual history by deeply discerning the relationships and conflicts between individual historical figures.’ Zwingliana ’This book renders an important service to Reformation scholarship by opening up a new area of research, and is a worthy successor to Backus’s previous studies of history-writing in the sixteenth century. It will be essential reading for historians and historical theologians alike.’ Journal of Theological Studies 'Backus has identified the salient nuances that make the lifewriting genre so variegated. ... We can be grateful for such a careful analysis of this body of writing.' Ralph Keen, Catholic Historical Review 'Like everything that Backus does, this book demonstrates meticulous research. It is full and careful, giving the story behind the persisting interpretations of major Protestant Reformers.' Journal o
ISBN: 9780754660552
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 720g
302 pages