Martin Luther

Routledge Historical Biographies

by Michael A. Mullett

An engaging and comprehensive new edition of this established biography provides students with an understanding of the European Reformation through the life of its key mover, Martin Luther. Working chronologically through Luther’s life, Michael A. Mullet explains and analyses Luther’s background, the development of his Reformation theology in the 95 Theses, the Diet of Worms and the creation of Lutheranism. This fully revised and updated new edition includes a chapter on the legacy and memory of Luther through the centuries since his death, looking to his influence on modern Germany and the wider world. A comprehensive chronology at the start of the book traces the important dates in Luther’s personal and political life.

This is a vivid, scholarly and empathetic biography of Martin Luther, which will be essential reading for all students of the European Reformation, early modern history and religious history.

Genres: History, Biography

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2004

About the author

Michael A. Mullett is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Lancaster, UK, where he taught history for 40 years, prior to official retirement in 2008.

Reviews

[withdrawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generally well written, intelligent, well researched book. There is a great deal of information to be found here including good explanation of the ideas of both Luther and his critics. My only real criticism with Mullett's style is his tendency at times to psychologize. The worst example of this occurs towards the end of the book where the author suggests that Luther's final journey "...May have had some of the character of a suicide mission arising out of a self-judgement for failure." There is little in the text to support this suggestion. I felt something of a sense of embarrassment for the author upon reading it.

Most of my reading of this book has been done in Buenos Aires, a city still deep in the cult of the Catholic Church. Seeing people here participating in deeply felt acts which are based less on theological beliefs than they are on little more than superstition, does make me wonder what all the fuss was about almost 500 years ago and why so many died. But then, sadly, people continue to suffer and die throughout the world in support of little understood religious nonsense.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is yet another Luther biography really necessary? Perhaps not, but this one is a good read, and I always find the life of the Blessed Reformer fascinating.