This is a biography of Martin Luther, a monk in 16th century Germanic state of Saxony whose ideas about Bible started a religious reformation of catholic church.
This is a story about a private person and his ideas and how he evolved to think that way.
The book is too big with some unnecessary repetitive information. It is fine to read it if book is available in a local library. It has lots of interesting stuff about Luther himself. Even picture we now recognize as Luther is very different from young Luther people saw when reformation started in 1517. But ultimately I think the author failed to truly explain a political and economical background that prompted Luther to do what he did.
The most important question is why reformation started in Germany. Why not in France or Italy or Spain? Luther himself said it briefly in one of the notes in the book it is because the power the Pope had over Germanic states was more widespread and chance of abuse higher than it was in other parts of Europe. By 16th century Spain, France were already consolidated their statehood and interference in their internal affairs by the Pope was minimal. But Germany was different. It consisted of small principalities and the Pope were able to easily get involved in their internal affairs. Luther's religious reformation was in fact a political turning point in western Europe.
posted by David Usharauli
