The Days of the Upright

by O.I.A. Roche

This is a book about the history of the Huguenots.

Genres: Nonfiction

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Katrina Zartman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was written well enough. However, I was looking for something with more information about what the Huguenots believed, what they were like, etc. I didn't finish reading the entire book.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent 300 page history of the Huguenots (French Protestants), mostly revolving around the 1500s time period. The author is biased but it is so obvious and so well written it still makes for great reading. Roche's writing is so clear and descriptive that even though he wants you to hate Catherine de Medici - ruling directly or indirectly on behalf of a succession of not very impressive sons - you can understand how her granting of rights to Protestants was often not enforced or revoked. The French crown was precarious at that time, neither wealthy nor powerful, and often had to retreat to rural France to prevent overthrow by Parisian mobs. Maintaining the monarchy meant changing policy in response to Protestant uprisings or Spanish threats to invade if Protestant rights were maintained (this was the era of Philip II and the Inquisition). Roche notes with pride that the statue of Henry IV, the first Protestant king (and first Bourbon), was the only one left intact by the revolutionary mobs two hundred years later. (Of course Henry immediately converted to Catholicism to ensure the peace and his descendants, the series of Louises, were not religiously tolerant).

Roche includes some nice touches for a history book: pictures sprinkled throughout and a handy, succinct "dramatis personae" (his term, not mine).

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read last two chapters, which were very interesting. May pick it up again, and read more.