Books - Heretics and Heroes by Thomas Cahill

Heretics and Heroes: How Renaissance Artists and Reformation Priests Created Our World by Thomas Cahill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The 6th in a "Hinges of History" series by Cahill, he examines the connections and parallel developments of the Renaissance and the Reformation in "Heretics and Heroes." As history books go, the book is well-written, and not overly dry to read; something I consider a feat considering the period of history being covered. With so many varied actors and stages throughout this period of history, its easy to get overwhelmed and lost. Cahill does a decent job of navigating that for his readers.

That said, for anyone who has read a decent amount of history about this period or studied such a period in school, the book does not offer any new information or insights. It provides a survey of the historical time frame and the two movements that covered a few centuries, but does not delve deeply into any one subject matter. It gives the readers the connections and the landscape, but to know more the Renaissance and Reformation, a different book, or more likely more books, will be necessary.

However, as I believe the book is intended to be a survey, and a history read for those who may not normally read history, I think the book ultimately succeeds.

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