Product Description

The changes brought about during the English Reformation clearly reflected the desire of the Crown, government and landed classes to reduce the political power and landed wealth of the late medieval Church. This book covers the background to the Reformation, the processes which brought about these major changes and the impact on the clergy and the general population

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #310487 in Books
• Published on: 1989-03-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 121 pages

Customer Reviews

An informative book- raising questions as well as answers
I read this book in order to support my study on the Reformation under Henry VIII, and weither it was connected to his divorce of Catherine of Aragon. Pendrill not only aided my study but also raised more areas to study. For example, he highlights the pressure the Pope was under in Rome, not only his weakening position in the English court.
If you are looking for resource book I think this would be a perfect choice, however if you're looking for an introduction to Henry VIII I'd advise something a little lighter!

A good introduction to the reformation
As a core text for my history degree, this book provided an excellent introduction to the English reformation. Shiels, an historian/lecturer with a particular interest in this era, has given a clear, concise background to the reformation; looking at the causes of it and the impact it had on the church and on the population. He takes the reader through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward, Mary and ends with the early reign of Elizabeth. We see that the reformation was already gathering momentum long before Henry decided he wanted a divorce.
As would be expected from a book of this ilk, there are plenty of references which allows the reader to move onto further study should they so wish. At 128 pages you would be forgiven for thinking this book was too brief for serious study but in fact it packs a wealth of knowledge into its pages. The downside of this text is that it is, at times, a little too dry. This probably makes it unsuitable for the casual reader but, for the student it is an invaluable addition to the bookshelf.

Reformation Review
Not particularly inspiring to read, although I must confess I had overlooked the fact it was aimed at A-level students.Perhaps some sort of code could be introduced to these type of books to indicate that they are not really suitable for the average reader. Don't like any book which has numbered references listed on its pages, and this book reminded me how we were taught History at School, mainly facts and figures, and nothing to keep one interested in it for very long.