Thomas Kaufmann

Can’t praise this book enough. The writing is style is completely accessible. The whole book just takes you through the subject of Luther’s anti-semitism, step by step, including his personal experiences of the Jews, what books on the Jews influenced Luther, and Luther’s own writings on the Jews. He gives the background of how the Jews were treated at this time in history and tells the story all the way up to the end regarding how the National Socialists used and took advantage of Luther’s writings on the Jews, especially, On the Jews and Their Lies. Kaufmann also makes some conclusions that are necessary. The kind of book that serves a purpose and that you don’t want to end.… (more)

Well written, in easy to understand German, this is a good history of the Reformation from a German point of view. A good grasp of German geography would be helpful. I liked the illustrations, which helped lighten it up when the chapters got long. The text is over 400 pages so it requires a certain amount of perserverance. I found the tendency to use Germanized names for non-German rulers distracting - Heinrich VIII von England, Jakob VI von Schottland, Franz I von Frankreich. However, the author aimed at including readers outside the historical and theological academy, and temini are often explained in the text.

Both the history of the reformation itself and the history of its reception in the following centuries concentrate on Germany. Other parts of Europe (and occasionally the rest of the world) are mentioned now and again, but they are not Kaufmann's main interest.… (more)