Inquisition: The Reign of Fear
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Product Description
A break-out book by one of our best narrative non-fiction authors
Book Description
Everybody has heard of the Inquisition. It was an institution that pursued heretics, philandering priests and sexual deviants in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America for a period of over 350 years, changing its focus with the times and enduring stubbornly into the nineteenth century. Today the word implies dread, fear and a withheld threat of torture. But who were its targets? Why did it provoke such fear? How and where did it operate? Why was it founded, and why did it last for so long? Toby Green’s incredible new book brings an extraordinary 350-year period vividly to life by focusing on the hitherto untold stories of individuals from all walks of life. Because the Inquisition touched every aspect of society, it changed the world: people attending church had to look suitably devout, or they might be denounced; a curse at a game of cards, thrown out in the heat of the moment, could bring an investigation; stripping fat from a leg of lamb was enough to excite accusations of being a Jew. A secret police and a thought police, the Inquisition produced a permanent state of fear. This history, though filled with stories of terror and the unspeakable ways in which human beings can treat one another, is also one of hope and ultimately of the resilience of the human spirit. Instead of being cowed by their fear, countless people rebelled in small and big ways, paving the way for a more inclusive society. The story of the Inquisition is not, then, one to be hidden and avoided; it deserves to be told in all its human richness and complexity.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This remarkable book deals with the Inquisition which started in 1428 spread from Spain to Portugal, Africa,Asia,and Sooth America but did not oficially end till 1834 even thoygh it had been inactive for sometime.
The author suggests the Inquisition was more a political activity than a religious one as it was never sanctioned by the Pope who apparently had no power to stop it.However the Inquisition started as persecution of Jews and Moslems it spread to homosexuals,heretics,deviant priests and to all people who did not conform to the ideals of the Inquisition.
Very well written,researched and easy to read this book is a clear indictment of mans inhumanity to man but also demonstrates mans indominatable spirit
Ther are extensive notes,a good bibliography and a few illustrations.
The author suggests the Inquisition was more a political activity than a religious one as it was never sanctioned by the Pope who apparently had no power to stop it.However the Inquisition started as persecution of Jews and Moslems it spread to homosexuals,heretics,deviant priests and to all people who did not conform to the ideals of the Inquisition.
Very well written,researched and easy to read this book is a clear indictment of mans inhumanity to man but also demonstrates mans indominatable spirit
Ther are extensive notes,a good bibliography and a few illustrations.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've written this review three times because it's so hard to put into words how I feel now I've finished reading Inquisition: The Reign of Fear. I want to say that it was wonderful, but that's not the right way to sum it up, so I'll have to say that it's awful, uncomfortable, disturbing and utterly, utterly unique and compelling. Toby Green has really opened my eyes, I had this notion that the Inquisition was small, only relative to religious organisations and managed mainly by the church, I had no concept of how far reaching it became and how many different people it touched, irrespective of religion. I tend not to read books like this out of fear that they'll either glorify the horror with scenes of graphic violence or try to convert or preach, and I'm happy to say that Green hasn't attempted any of those devices, using instead his wonderfully, colourful descriptive voice to bring the events to life in a hauntingly, unbiased way. This is by no means an easy book to read, it takes some getting through because it's a serious research project, but I'd recommend it to any serious historian.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Toby Green's exhaustive research of the Spanish and Portuguese inquisitions has produced an outstanding account of one of the world's worst atrocities. A richly detailed history of Spain and Portugal's intolerance to the 'other' in their midst including Jews, Muslims and even Protestants. It is a history driven by paranoia and ignorance, Green suggesting that this was one of the earliest recorded incidents of racism. It is a thoroughly engrossing read, with fascinating first hand accounts of how the Inquisition affected individuals and their families. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this bleak period in Europe's history and history buffs in general.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Working the Dark Side
The idea that the Spanish Inquisition was a uniquely evil institution looks increasingly shaky. It now seems clear, for example, that many more people were killed in the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Metropolitan Critic
Interesting overview of the terror!
This book is very good. It is easy to read and yet packed with information. The author tends to follow the lives and histories of several generations of the same family groups,... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2007 by Chris Warne
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