Patrick Collinson (1929–2011)

This book is good but too short (and uneven) to be an adequate brief history. It’s excellent for a while – a broad brush approach with important, illustrative details and valuable insights. Then it’s sometimes sets of short strings of details without strong links or much analysis. It gets very good again at points, but it isn’t the one short work on the Reformation if you're only going to read one. Still, it’s well worth reading. Collinson asks a lot of good questions and show more challenges assumptions and received wisdoms, clearly the results of deep study and reflection on the subject. show less

This was one of the most entertaining reads I have come across on the Reformation. Full of sarcasm and humor, Collinson recounts the Reformation and its impact with a great deal of wit and passion.

Has the same problem as most of the DNB biographies: an assumption of specialist knowledge of the subject's time. Could definitely have done with some expansion in places, but still an interesting account of her life and reign.

Maybe just not what I was looking for. Decent background and history, but pleased by author's own correcting straw men of mistaken impressions of the reformation. Snarky comments throughout about issues/ people that didn't sit well with me in what I wanted to be a basic history. Read whole book trying to subtract author's biases....