A01=Irena Backus
Augsburg Confession
Author_Irena Backus
Biographical Genre
biographical sources Reformation studies
Calvin's Lives
Calvin’s Lives
Category=NHD
Category=QRAX
Category=QRM
Catholic polemics
confessional historiography
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eq_history
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
Florimond De Raemond
Genevan Reformation
Grotius
hagiographical narratives
Holy Man
Home Town
Hugo Grotius
intellectual history Europe
Konrad Pellikan
Ludwig Lavater
Luther's Life
Luther’s Life
Mos Gallicus
Nascent Nationalism
Noel Taillepied
Oswald Myconius
Protestant biography
Reformer's Life
Reformer’s Life
Religious Biography
sixteenth century religion
Sixteenth Century Zurich
Swiss Lives
Unified Lutheranism
Wittenberg Reformer
Young Man
Zurich Church
Zurich Reformation
Product details
- ISBN 9780754660552
- Weight: 453g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 28 May 2008
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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The Reformation period witnessed an explosion in the number of biographies of contemporary religious figures being published. Whether lives of reformers worthy of emulation, or heretics deserving condemnation, the genre of biography became a key element in the confessional rivalries that raged across Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Offering more than a general survey of Life writing, this volume examines key issues and questions about how this trend developed among different confessions and how it helped shape lasting images of reformers, particularly Luther and Calvin up to the modern period. This is the first-ever full length study of the subject showing that Lives of the reformers constitute an integral part of the intellectual and cultural history of the period, serving as an important source of information about the different Reformations. Depending on their origin, they provide a lesson in theology but also in civic values and ideals of education of the period. Genevan Lives in particular also point up the delicate issue of 'Reformed hagiography' which their authors try to avoid with a varying degree of success. Having consistently been at the forefront of the study of the intellectual history of the Reformation Irena Backus is perfectly placed to highlight the importance of Life writing. This is a path-breaking study that will open up a new way of viewing the confessional conflicts of the period and their historiography.
Professor Irena Backus is based at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
