C.L.R. Peterson Blog
Book Reviews & More
Did Erasmus lay the egg that Luther hatched?
When Desiderius Erasmus, a Dutch scholar and former monk, wrote The Praise of Folly in 1509, he satirized his world and called on bishops and popes to follow the example of Christ. The young Martin Luther may have seen Erasmus as a kindred spirit in his call for...
Gutenberg’s Gift to Renaissance and Reformation
Johannes Gutenberg began his life in 1400 as a merchant's youngest son in Mainz, yet by the time he died in 1468, even the pope knew his reputation---all because this goldsmith found a way to print using movable type. His journey to fame came painstakingly slowly...
TOP 10 SUMMER DIVES INTO THE REFORMATION
Editor’s note: blog posts will alternate between 1) the lead-up to the Reformation and 2) the Reformation’s 500th anniversary. Today we begin with resources related to the Reformation's 500th anniversary. October 31 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the...
Heroes* Who Felt the Heat
In England, John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English in 1382, and insisted the scriptures, not the pope, should have authority over the Christian church. He also attacked the sale of indulgences, certain Church doctrines, and the clergy’s immorality and...
In the Beginning
Why this blog? As October 31st, 2017 approaches, media coverage of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation increases daily. What more should be said, and why by me, a devotée of the Renaissance since a college semester spent in Italy? Simply put,...
Get My New Short Story!
Verona, 1571.
When Caterina welcomes her husband’s brilliant student, Alessandro, into their home, she has no idea how he will heighten the danger her family faces as the Inquisition closes in.
Immerse yourself in rich historical detail and high emotional stakes in this dramatic story of danger and conscience!