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The Facts About Luther
A popular expose of his life and work, based on Protestant historians. Incredible history; fascinating, damning evidence about him that is quite contrary to the popular image. Many quotes from his own mouth. Essential history!
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 13, 2007
It was refreshing to finally read an accurate biography of Martin Luther. Protestants should really attempt to discover more about their role models before putting them on a pedestal. This book was very revealing as to Martin Luther's real character. Although the author's language was a bit biased, the biography was overall more objective than others I have read. It is heavily and accurately researched. Most of the quotes come from Martin Luther's own writings. This book really puts Luther in his place. Four stars.
June 16, 2022
Really fascinating and incredible book. I recommend it to all.
I DNF it because I’ve gotten to the point where I agree with all of this. Each page is continually fascinating and shocking with the info it provides on Luther, but it’s also very dense and I just don’t ~need~ to read this book enough to drudge through it. Very important book and I do not doubt I will return to it.
I DNF it because I’ve gotten to the point where I agree with all of this. Each page is continually fascinating and shocking with the info it provides on Luther, but it’s also very dense and I just don’t ~need~ to read this book enough to drudge through it. Very important book and I do not doubt I will return to it.
June 12, 2017
Recommended by several learned Catholic friends, this might be the single most historically eye-opening book that I've ever read, especially in combination with reading more on Luther and the history of the Reformation from other sources. It's remarkable just how different scholastic and historic opinion of "the great reformer" is from mainstream modern Protestant perception.
"The Facts About Luther" is admittedly written by a Catholic scholar - Monsignor Patrick O'Hare, and admittedly, it reveals considerable Catholic bias when O'Hare writes in his own words. However, the vast majority of compelling evidence comes from citations of Luther's work itself or from writings of Protestant historians or contemporaries of Luther. I, personally, am not a historian, and while I note that the book lacks a robust citation system, O'Hare is rarely vague, quite consistent, and repeatedly enforces that his goal is not to attach or slander Luther personally, but rather call into question the authenticity of the man as a reformer - and I believe that he does this well. Additionally, at no point to date have I noticed serious discrepancy between what O'Hare quotes and states and what information I have found elsewhere - pro- or anti-Luther in nature.
Matters of secular scholasticism aside, O'Hare presents a bevy of subjects and cases which, spiritually and rationally, are very concerning from any angle. Additionally, O'Hare presents a window into the (all too frequently glossed over) Catholic side of the Reformation, as well as Catholic responses to Luther's (sometimes ridiculous) 95 theses and following works.
This was sort of a cohesive baseline for me to understand Luther from a Catholic point of view, and I fully intend to take it further. I would rate this more highly if some of O'Hare's sources were more easily attainable in English or at all.
"The Facts About Luther" is admittedly written by a Catholic scholar - Monsignor Patrick O'Hare, and admittedly, it reveals considerable Catholic bias when O'Hare writes in his own words. However, the vast majority of compelling evidence comes from citations of Luther's work itself or from writings of Protestant historians or contemporaries of Luther. I, personally, am not a historian, and while I note that the book lacks a robust citation system, O'Hare is rarely vague, quite consistent, and repeatedly enforces that his goal is not to attach or slander Luther personally, but rather call into question the authenticity of the man as a reformer - and I believe that he does this well. Additionally, at no point to date have I noticed serious discrepancy between what O'Hare quotes and states and what information I have found elsewhere - pro- or anti-Luther in nature.
Matters of secular scholasticism aside, O'Hare presents a bevy of subjects and cases which, spiritually and rationally, are very concerning from any angle. Additionally, O'Hare presents a window into the (all too frequently glossed over) Catholic side of the Reformation, as well as Catholic responses to Luther's (sometimes ridiculous) 95 theses and following works.
This was sort of a cohesive baseline for me to understand Luther from a Catholic point of view, and I fully intend to take it further. I would rate this more highly if some of O'Hare's sources were more easily attainable in English or at all.
August 2, 2019
As I've said in a review published elsewhere, this book is but a sad remnant of a time that is happily past, at least in mainstream circles. It was a time of animosity and divisiveness, a time when the other could be seen only and necessarily as other. After all, Luther was a man with the shortcomings and extreme rhetoric of his time; he could hardly have been otherwise. (The writings of his contemporary, St. Thomas More, display a spectacular range of salty language.) In the same way, Msgr. O’Hare was a man of his time, with the temperament and prejudices with which he was inculturated.
Alternatives that would be far more worthwhile? Heiko Oberman, Martin Marty, and Robert Kolb have entries vying for best-in-class. David Steinmetz’s Luther in Context provides exactly what its title promises. Don't expect solid works such as those by the authors just mentioned to cite blindly partisan, tendentious offerings such as the book here reviewed.
Alternatives that would be far more worthwhile? Heiko Oberman, Martin Marty, and Robert Kolb have entries vying for best-in-class. David Steinmetz’s Luther in Context provides exactly what its title promises. Don't expect solid works such as those by the authors just mentioned to cite blindly partisan, tendentious offerings such as the book here reviewed.
April 20, 2025
While O'Hare is certainly not attempting to be non-partisan, in my opinion, his rhetoric often detracted from the overall impact of this work. While the objective reader will and should be concerned by revelation of the historical Luther and should think carefully about whether he was truly qualified for the roles of priest or reformer in the first place, those looking for a reason to lambast the work as biased will find ample ammunition from O'Hares commentary to discount what would otherwise be a potent critique. The persistent reference to Luther's own contentious and often confused words, actions, attitudes and theological novums, along with commentary from his own contemporaries and colleagues, paints a disturbing picture of Luther that is frequently at odds with the mythologised portrait of Luther as bastian of conscience and egalitarianism.
October 12, 2017
It is very sobering and sometimes shocking to read this book on Martin Luther, a book that most often cites protestant and contemporary sources for its description of him.
We would expect a 'reformer' to be a good example to follow, in words and in deeds. But after this book I can only shake my head when I hear people praise Luther. They probably only know the Luther myth – and not the real Luther.
We would expect a 'reformer' to be a good example to follow, in words and in deeds. But after this book I can only shake my head when I hear people praise Luther. They probably only know the Luther myth – and not the real Luther.
April 10, 2024
Enlightening
I find it amazing that the actual thoughts, words and behavior of Luther has been so well hidden and replaced by a saintly image.
I find it amazing that the actual thoughts, words and behavior of Luther has been so well hidden and replaced by a saintly image.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews