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The Inquisition (Illustrated): A Political and Military Study of its Establishment
Illustrated, with Preface by Hilaire Beloc.
Hilaire Belloc, writes in his preface to "The Inquisition":
"History" (said the great Michelet in a phrase which I am never tired of repeating) "should be a resurrection of the flesh."
Belloc then goes on to give high praise to the author's scholarship and rigor on a topic that had been too often fancified or carelessly put to paper by writers who "played to the gallery".
Author Hoffman Nickerson (1888-1965), was a descendant of a venerable American family, whose ancestor William Nickerson had bought Cape Cod from the Indians in 1637. His motive in researching the Inquisition is explained in his opening letter:
"It was begun during a term in the New York State Legislature, when I endured Prohibition lobbyists, and
cast about for something which might serve as a historical precedent in the way of religio-political oppression on so vast a scale. I was not long before discovering that traditional Christianity had more to say for the Inquisitors than for the Prohibitionists, so that the parallel with Prohibition has been thrust into an epilogue."
This highly acclaimed treatise is a "must read" for history buffs, or anyone wanting a fresh and unbiased account of the Albigensian Crusade and the Inquisition itself.
Hilaire Belloc, writes in his preface to "The Inquisition":
"History" (said the great Michelet in a phrase which I am never tired of repeating) "should be a resurrection of the flesh."
Belloc then goes on to give high praise to the author's scholarship and rigor on a topic that had been too often fancified or carelessly put to paper by writers who "played to the gallery".
Author Hoffman Nickerson (1888-1965), was a descendant of a venerable American family, whose ancestor William Nickerson had bought Cape Cod from the Indians in 1637. His motive in researching the Inquisition is explained in his opening letter:
"It was begun during a term in the New York State Legislature, when I endured Prohibition lobbyists, and
cast about for something which might serve as a historical precedent in the way of religio-political oppression on so vast a scale. I was not long before discovering that traditional Christianity had more to say for the Inquisitors than for the Prohibitionists, so that the parallel with Prohibition has been thrust into an epilogue."
This highly acclaimed treatise is a "must read" for history buffs, or anyone wanting a fresh and unbiased account of the Albigensian Crusade and the Inquisition itself.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1923
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June 1, 2024
This book was mentioned in an essay by G.K. Chesterton so I decided to give it a try. When you factor out the racism, sexism, & religious bigotry, it is a well written & surprisingly interesting book apparently written by a man in a snit over not being able to get a cocktail or glass of beer when he went out for dinner. Although he says from the beginning that he is writing about the similarity of the Inquisition & Prohibition, he doesn't really get into that theme until the last chapter which is written in a very different tone than the rest of the book, veering from political & religious history to angry screed. A very different read from my usual fare.
Displaying 1 of 1 review