Henry VIII’s reformation remains among the most crucial yet misunderstood events in English history. In this substantial new account G. W. Bernard presents the king as neither confused nor a pawn in the hands of manipulative factions. Henry; a monarch who ruled as well as reigned; is revealed instead as the determining mover of religious policy throughout this momentous period.In Henry’s campaign to secure a divorce from Catherine of Aragon; which led him to break with Rome; his strategy; as Bernard shows; was more consistent and more radical than historians have allowed. Henry refused to introduce Lutheranism; but rather harnessed the rhetoric of the continental reformation in support of his royal supremacy. Convinced that the church needed urgent reform; in particular the purging of superstition and idolatry; Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries and the dismantling of the shrines were much more than a venal attempt to raise money. The king sought a middle way between Rome and Zurich; between Catholicism and its associated superstitions on one hand and the subversive radicalism of the reformers on the other. With a ruthlessness that verged on tyranny; Henry VIII determined the pace of change in the most important twenty years of England’s religious development.
#875785 in Books imusti 2004-08-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.10 x .60 x 5.50l; .50 #File Name: 0300105924208 pagesYale University Press
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerVery intresting approach of the beginning of the principles of the US0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy dlhFascinating story of first four presidents with condemnation of Alexander Hamilton. Unusual take.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Well; it's by Gore Vidal after allBy Paul F. BrooksThe following comments are for the unabridged audio book version of "Inventing a Nation". Of particular interest is a fascinating afterword spoken by author Gore Vidal. In this relatively short book; I noted that the page count of the print version is 198; Gore Vidal attempts to place his literary arms around the efforts of those three principal actors in our early national drama Washington; Adams and Jefferson. This is by all accounts a book of non-fiction but I find his style very similar to his fictional prose - extremely fascinating and sometimes very frustrating. That comment is based upon my limited reading of his historical fiction: "Burr"; "1876" and "Lincoln". Trust Vidal to highlight some the historical oddities that can challenge our uninformed assumptions:Washington gallantly waiver his salary as commander of the Continental Army but after the war submitted his bill for personal expenses of $100;000.Our bloody enemies; the mercenary Hessians; married local girls Western Pa and Delaware hence the many German family names found in those areas.Vidal broaches the rumor the Hamilton was Washington's illegitimate son. After all GW did visit the Bahamas once.The anti-Catholic Pope-hating Yankee Protestants thought an invasion of Canada in 1776; let by the redoubtable Benedict Arnold; would be a resounding success. After all would not the Popish Frenchmen rally around the New Englanders against the British oppressors?Vidal has a keen facility for discerning the eccentricity of human nature. His insightful observations breath life into the Founding Fathers. A fascinating read or listen; recommended.
