A Brief History of the English Reformation

by Derek Wilson

By 1600, England became a radically different nation in which family, work, religion, and politics were radically altered. In this Brief History, Tudor historian and expert DerekWilson describes the dramatic changes that occurred to England, how the nation became Protestant, and why it still matters today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Derek Wilson has been a writer of historical fiction and non-fiction for 50 years. His much acclaimed prize-winning works have largely centred on 16th and 17th century Europe. He has used various pen names for his fiction, his current Thomas Treviot Tudor crime series being written under the name D.K. Wilson. The first 2 books in this series - The First Horseman and The Traitor's Mark are based on real unsolved Tudor mysteries and have received enthusiastic plaudits. Readers have favourably compared this innovative series with the books of C.J. Sansom and S.J. Parris.
Recent non-fiction triumphs include The Plantagenets, Holbein: Portrait of an Unknown Man, and Charlemagne: a Biography.
Derek Wilson graduated from Cambridge and spent several years travelling and teaching in Africa before becoming a full-time writer and broadcaster in 1971. He has frequently written and appeared on radio and television and is popular as a public speaker having appeared at several literary festivals,British Museum, Hampton Court Palace, The British Library and other prestigious venues.

Reviews

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religion is vital to understanding the history of early modern Europe and this book aims to grapple with the English Reformation, an event set in motion by Henry VIII's divorce and which dominated English life and politics during the 16th century. I appreciated the author's focus on how the Reformation impacted the English church and religious practice, which is helpful, for example, in understanding why the attempt to restore the Catholic Church under Mary I failed. Overall, this is an excellent book for understanding the English Reformation, although at times I did wish more detail had been provided.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A history of the house of Tudor, and how their rule transformed England both religiously and politically, and the influence of the vernacular scriptures on the English people.

For English speaking peoples, to understand our religious history, we cannot help but understand the English Reformation. Much of American religious history is either influenced by, or a reaction to this century or so of Tudor rule in England.

Derek Wilson traces the finer details of a story whose basic outlines may be familiar. Henry VIII seems the unlikely reformer. Early on, he is even bestowed the title, "Defender of the Faith" for his arguments against the continental European reformers. He fills in the narrative of Henry's frustrated dynastic ambitions, jeopardized by the failure to produce a male heir, that leads to the fateful step of separation from Rome when the web of papal politics leads to a failure to obtain an annulment, and his subsequent proclamation of sovereignty over the church in England. He seizes and dissolves monasteries, bankrolling his wars, executes Anne Boleyn, his second wife, and finally secures a male heir from Jane, the third wife, who dies as a result of childbirth.

Wilson narrates the rise and fall of powerful religious figures--Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell. Thomas Cranmer is the figure charged with forming a church, purging it of Catholic elements, resisting the more radical elements, and establishing the via media that characterizes the Church of England to this day.

Wilson covers the Catholic backlash--from dynastic houses on the continent, and within the country. When Edward VI dies young and heirless, Mary, born of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife, becomes a Catholic queen and initiates the purge that gains her the title of "Bloody Mary." Wilson provides graphic descriptions of burnings at the stake, a truly gruesome means of execution that also left us with Foxe's Book of Martyrs and tales of Cranmer running to the stake.

Relative peace comes only with the accession of Elizabeth I, a shrewd woman who did all she could to avoid antagonizing enemies while returning to its place the church Henry began. This was not without uprisings and more executions, particularly as Catholics make England the object of missionary enterprise, but Elizabeth more readily sought compromise rather than revenge, and the nation, perhaps weary from religious upheaval, accepted the peace she brought.

With reform came the vernacular Bible in various English versions with glosses of Lutherans, Genevans, and eventually English Bishops. For Wilson, this seems one of the most significant events, not necessarily intended by the leaders among the Reformers. In place of ritual came the preaching of the Bible, and a growth of biblical literacy to the place where Shakespeare's biblical allusions made sense to his public. In concluding the book, Wilson writes:

"One change above all had not only shaped England but ensured that it could never revert to an authoritarian polity dominated by kings and priests. This monumental transformation of the national psyche was brought about by a book. The English Bible potentially enabled every man and woman to find faith for him/herself. And as they discovered truths within its pages, so they would apply those truths to every aspect of social, political and economic life. The Reformation did not invent individualism, but it did provide individualism with a textual basis. The Reformation did not inaugurate an age of faith. What it did establish was a national Christianity that could define its own doctrines, invent its own liturgy and negotiate its own public morality without dependence on a foreign spiritual superpower. Since church and state were inextricably entwined, this freedom found expression in the government's internal and external relations. England assumed a leadership role in Protestant Europe. In the fullness of time, thanks to its commercial and colonial expansion, it would take its culture and its reformed heritage to the ends of the earth."

Out of all of this came the Protestant movements that colonized America. English Bibles trace their lineage back through King James to versions by Coverdale and Tyndale. The sometimes tendentious relationship between church and state finds its roots both in the reaction to state control and yet the idea that somehow the teaching of holy scripture should "apply...to every aspect of social, political, and economic life." We may trace all this and more back to the English Reformation, making works like this important if we are to understand our own religious and national roots.

[Charlie Kaifes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book. I don’t read non fiction often but I learned a lot about an era of history I was unfamiliar with. The English Reformation is an accessible summary of what happened in the religious changes starting with Henry the 8th and ending with Queen Elizabeth.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished A Brief History of the English Reformation and give it 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The story itself is very good, but the writing style is choppy and hard to follow with all the names the author threw in to the narrative. There is no doubt that the author knows his stuff, but his delivery style was not very welcoming. This is definitely not a history "for dummies", and I didn't want it to be dumbed down, but Wilson just had too many examples throughout the book which got tedious, and began to wear on me a little bit.

I am an Episcopalian and I read this book to gain a base knowledge of the English Reformation, and it fit that bill nicely. The story of Henry the VIII and his 3 children that ascended to the throne after him is actually very entertaining. It was like a roller coaster ride and it is fascinating to me that all this actually went down!

So, in a nutshell, I would recommend this book for someone wanting to learn more about the English Reformation, but I would not recommend it for the writing style. I have read many other historical non-fiction books (about other subjects) that had much better deliveries. A decent entrance point to this time period, but there may be better ones out there...

Happy Valentine's Day!

[Alastair Lack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable history of the reformation

[Peter Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on a topic that probably should be taught more than it is in the UK as things stand. If you want an overview of the Reformation this book will not disappoint though be aware it stops after Elizabeth I.

[Ash Catt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 'Brief History Of...' book that I have unwittingly read! I may have to concede that these books really aren't too bad, lest I form some kind of inquisition to root any out of my collection that may have concealed themselves within.

Regardless of this, this work focuses on the English Reformation, and it is practically just that; it is a run through of the Reformation - very specifically focusing on the Tudor period. Rather than continuing the narrative onwards, it cuts off at 1600 without going on to discuss the aftermath. However the very pertinent point was made that religion grew very complex in the 17th century, and you would need a whole other work to explain that. This reasoning, I can understand. However, there isn't much in the way of context given in terms of the Medieval Church. I feel like the briefing on the pre-Reformation religious situation should be a little more comprehensive in order to give readers more of a feel for the changes that were effected within the process.

The central argument of the book (which isn't solidly identified until the last few pages) is that the Reformation came about through primarily religious and doctrinal means; specifically this was supposedly fueled by the debate and eventual dissemination of the Bible in English. It is certainly considerable that this might explain the way that the reformation (in England) trickled down from the intelligentsia of society and then caught on to those who were literate but were also both laymen and not in the higher caste of society. It would also explain the way that Protestantism diversified into many different sects, and became something of a prototype of non-conformism. I am not expert in the field, but the central argument does seem plausible and worthy of defense in my eyes.

The quality of the prose and writing style provokes a mixed response to me. On some cases, it feels lively and readable, but other times it is so laced with unnecessary metaphor that it becomes dense and unfocused. The use of rhetorical questions particularly feels rather jarring when reading, especially when three or four are deployed consecutively. It feels like you are having concepts rapidly thrown at you without having chance to absorb them properly.

Also, his characterisations of certain characters seem to rest on cliches. Such as Anne of Cleves being dull and ugly, as well as the overall more offensive suggestion in the subtext that Katherine Howard was a completely willing participant in her prior sexual encounters, despite being a child. However, the summation of Mary I seems quite apt when the author traverses the line between not demonising her, but not completely absolving her of complicity in the burning of supposed heretics.

Overall, this book is readable for the most part, save for being cut up by jarring metaphor and deluges of rhetorical questions. The main points seem sound, and is an adequate run through of the period. More context would be appreciated to fully explore the notion of change, however the author seems to consider the concept of 'change' to be unimportant anyway so perhaps that settles that. I think this works for an overview, but I would advise further reading. Then again, I'm no authority on the topic anyway.