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The Life and Times of Martin Luther
A fascinating look at the ideas that founded the Protestant Church
Wittenberg, Germany, 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 theses criticizing the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. With that one defiant act, a conflict begins—a conflict that will spark the Protestant Reformation and ultimately lead to the division of the Christian church.
This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.
Wittenberg, Germany, 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 theses criticizing the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. With that one defiant act, a conflict begins—a conflict that will spark the Protestant Reformation and ultimately lead to the division of the Christian church.
This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.
44 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2017
27 people want to read
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November 3, 2018
Now with regard to providing a basic, general (and indeed also a totally uncontroversial and unproblematic) introduction to Martin Luther, his life, his theology and his ninety-five theses (which of course he nailed to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517), Meike Roth-Beck's presented narrative does I guess succeed well enough from a general knowledge and information point of departure. However and personally, I for one was indeed expecting considerably more from Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen and have as a result been left pretty majorly disappointed.
For one (and I do in fact realise and understand that this is indeed a person with a PhD in German language and literature speaking here), I certainly was expecting with Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen to find a trifle more information and details presented by the author, by Meike Roth-Beck on Luther's substantial and far reaching linguistic achievements, which actually are at least in my humble opinion quite a bit more substantial, more positive and also more historically and culturally of lasting significance than his work as a reformer, than his theologic contributions, his role as the often aptly named and designated father of the Protestant Reformation quite notwithstanding. For Martin Luther's Bible translation into the vernacular of the people, into the dialect of East Middle German is pretty universally regarded as one of the main building blocks of what is now seen as standard written and even standard spoken German, and I for one have always been considerably more interested in and impressed by Martin Luther realising that to get his Bible translation into the most households and understood by as many individuals as possible he needed to pen his translation in neither a dialect of Low German nor a dialect of High German, but use a dialect of Middle German (a dialect that therefore straddles the middle of the German linguistic and dialect spectrum so to speak and would thus generally be easier to understand by everyone or at least by the majority of the potential readers Martin Luther was attempting to reach with his Bible translation and his striving to make the latter more accessible and readable for the majority of the German speaking peoples, no matter whether they resided in the Northern German lowland plains or in the Bavarian or Swiss alpine uplands).
And for two (and perhaps even more frustratingly and annoyingly) I also do find it both rather tediously monotonous, not to mention academically suspect and problematic that Meike Roth-Beck has made her Martin Luther biography so one hundred percent positive and exultative and that she has therefore and likely deliberately completely chosen to ignore the (albeit in my humble opinion very much important and historically, culturally significant) less than stellar Martin Luther character traits, and in particular and infuriatingly his rabid and ranting anti-Semitism, his often rather Pauline-like misogyny and that even though Martin Luther kept pontificating about how and that his new theology, his new way of approaching the Bible, God, Jesus Christ etc. was for the people, was for everyone and not just the higher ups, Luther still expected his followers to be absolutely and completely subservient to not only God but also to both the secular and ecclesiastical authorities (whose power and might in my humble opinion, Martin Luther seemed to have actively considered as having been ordained by God, with the authorities both earthbound and divine being God's representatives on earth so to speak, and sorry, but in my opinion, that kind of a world or organised religion point of philosophy sure seems to feel to and for me as pretty well similar to the Roman Catholicism Luther claimed have despised so much and to be fighting against, with the fact that Meike Roth-Beck seemingly also then majorly and pretty much totally glosses over the many horrible religious wars that were engendered and caused by the Protestant Reformation as some kind of unimportant but necessary afterthought really and truly making me cringe and shake my head in and with rather massive and annoyed consternation).
And while I do indeed realise that Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen is a picture book biography and thus geared towards children, considering that the author's presented text is pretty much densely penned and therefore most definitely meant more for older children above the age of ten or so than for the very young, I most definitely and empathically will say that Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen (while indeed showing a basically adequate short introduction to Martin Luther) is not in any way balanced and nuanced enough for my own personal and academic tastes, and it certainly does grate on me sufficiently that Martin Luther seems to have been presented by Meike Roth-Beck as seemingly someone on a pedestal, as someone one hundred percent positive, basically as a person who is above and beyond any and all forms of criticism for me to consider no more than a two star ranking at best for Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen (as even though I have in fact enjoyed reading the shown and presented biographical, historical and cultural, religious details on Martin Luther to a certain extent, the informational gaps, what is missing, what has not been considered, all this, as well as the complete absence of any bibliographical information whatsoever makes me totally growl and grind my teeth in and with annoyed frustration and so much so that even Klaus Ensikat's delightful and realistic accompanying illustrations cannot and will not really rescue Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen enough for me both personally and even more to the point, academically, intellectually).
For one (and I do in fact realise and understand that this is indeed a person with a PhD in German language and literature speaking here), I certainly was expecting with Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen to find a trifle more information and details presented by the author, by Meike Roth-Beck on Luther's substantial and far reaching linguistic achievements, which actually are at least in my humble opinion quite a bit more substantial, more positive and also more historically and culturally of lasting significance than his work as a reformer, than his theologic contributions, his role as the often aptly named and designated father of the Protestant Reformation quite notwithstanding. For Martin Luther's Bible translation into the vernacular of the people, into the dialect of East Middle German is pretty universally regarded as one of the main building blocks of what is now seen as standard written and even standard spoken German, and I for one have always been considerably more interested in and impressed by Martin Luther realising that to get his Bible translation into the most households and understood by as many individuals as possible he needed to pen his translation in neither a dialect of Low German nor a dialect of High German, but use a dialect of Middle German (a dialect that therefore straddles the middle of the German linguistic and dialect spectrum so to speak and would thus generally be easier to understand by everyone or at least by the majority of the potential readers Martin Luther was attempting to reach with his Bible translation and his striving to make the latter more accessible and readable for the majority of the German speaking peoples, no matter whether they resided in the Northern German lowland plains or in the Bavarian or Swiss alpine uplands).
And for two (and perhaps even more frustratingly and annoyingly) I also do find it both rather tediously monotonous, not to mention academically suspect and problematic that Meike Roth-Beck has made her Martin Luther biography so one hundred percent positive and exultative and that she has therefore and likely deliberately completely chosen to ignore the (albeit in my humble opinion very much important and historically, culturally significant) less than stellar Martin Luther character traits, and in particular and infuriatingly his rabid and ranting anti-Semitism, his often rather Pauline-like misogyny and that even though Martin Luther kept pontificating about how and that his new theology, his new way of approaching the Bible, God, Jesus Christ etc. was for the people, was for everyone and not just the higher ups, Luther still expected his followers to be absolutely and completely subservient to not only God but also to both the secular and ecclesiastical authorities (whose power and might in my humble opinion, Martin Luther seemed to have actively considered as having been ordained by God, with the authorities both earthbound and divine being God's representatives on earth so to speak, and sorry, but in my opinion, that kind of a world or organised religion point of philosophy sure seems to feel to and for me as pretty well similar to the Roman Catholicism Luther claimed have despised so much and to be fighting against, with the fact that Meike Roth-Beck seemingly also then majorly and pretty much totally glosses over the many horrible religious wars that were engendered and caused by the Protestant Reformation as some kind of unimportant but necessary afterthought really and truly making me cringe and shake my head in and with rather massive and annoyed consternation).
And while I do indeed realise that Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen is a picture book biography and thus geared towards children, considering that the author's presented text is pretty much densely penned and therefore most definitely meant more for older children above the age of ten or so than for the very young, I most definitely and empathically will say that Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen (while indeed showing a basically adequate short introduction to Martin Luther) is not in any way balanced and nuanced enough for my own personal and academic tastes, and it certainly does grate on me sufficiently that Martin Luther seems to have been presented by Meike Roth-Beck as seemingly someone on a pedestal, as someone one hundred percent positive, basically as a person who is above and beyond any and all forms of criticism for me to consider no more than a two star ranking at best for Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen (as even though I have in fact enjoyed reading the shown and presented biographical, historical and cultural, religious details on Martin Luther to a certain extent, the informational gaps, what is missing, what has not been considered, all this, as well as the complete absence of any bibliographical information whatsoever makes me totally growl and grind my teeth in and with annoyed frustration and so much so that even Klaus Ensikat's delightful and realistic accompanying illustrations cannot and will not really rescue Von Martin Luthers Wittenberger Thesen enough for me both personally and even more to the point, academically, intellectually).
March 6, 2021
Ja jums kādreiz kādam bērnam ir jāstāsta par reformāciju (personīgi man svēdienas skolā ir nācies pat vairākkārt), šis nudien būs brīnišķīgs palīgs. Teksts viegli uztverams un ļoti informatīvs. Attēli tiešām skaisti un aprakstītajiem notikumiem stilistiski piemēroti.
October 8, 2017
Eerdmans Publishers has a knack for selecting children's or young readers' picture biographies that are interesting and reveal the individual's special characteristics, shortcomings, and achievements. In this picture biography of Martin Luther - The Life and Times of Martin Luther, the author and illustrator have both collaborated well to show the reader what the people, buildings, dress looked like. Also, the spiritual life of the 1500s is well addressed as Martin Luther is in pursuit of knowing what the Bible actually teaches and how it conflicted with that which was currently being taught by the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders.
Some of the 95 Theses which Luther nailed to the church door are discussed. This type of information is rare in a book for ages 7 to 12. The text of the story about Luther and the times is a little heavy for a seven-year-old, but certainly not above that of a 6th grader. In fact, the book would be appealing to teens and adults and could perhaps be a pivot point that directs discussion and further research into the time of the Protestant Reformation. As the book points out, the period into which Luther was born was one when there was a thirst for knowledge. Universities were founded, technologies were invented, and the human body was studied. Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492. Luther was privileged to receive an education and later became a monk. It was while a monk he began to think and question the use of paid indulgences for the forgiveness of sins, etc.
Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door October 31, 1517 so Reformation Day is celebrated on October 31 and this year, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of this event.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given.
Some of the 95 Theses which Luther nailed to the church door are discussed. This type of information is rare in a book for ages 7 to 12. The text of the story about Luther and the times is a little heavy for a seven-year-old, but certainly not above that of a 6th grader. In fact, the book would be appealing to teens and adults and could perhaps be a pivot point that directs discussion and further research into the time of the Protestant Reformation. As the book points out, the period into which Luther was born was one when there was a thirst for knowledge. Universities were founded, technologies were invented, and the human body was studied. Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492. Luther was privileged to receive an education and later became a monk. It was while a monk he began to think and question the use of paid indulgences for the forgiveness of sins, etc.
Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door October 31, 1517 so Reformation Day is celebrated on October 31 and this year, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of this event.
God is merciful.
No one has to earn God's love.
It is a gift.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given.
October 5, 2021
Yes yes yes! We loved it. Got to explain plenty of new vocabulary to my 4 and 6 year olds and it took us 3 days to read it but we all ADORED it. A few scary illustrations I had to cover up but nothing that couldn't be handled. Get this for Reformation Day! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+❤
February 28, 2023
We can't just feel satisfied with truth as it is told to us by others; we need to be able to read and think for ourselves, even about important things like God. This is the message Martin Luther felt compelled to give to people, even amid the stranglehold the Catholic Church had on Europe of 1517.
This book is a powerful story of a powerful and daring man, Martin Luther, who was able to crack open the ironclad rules imposed upon people by the leaders of the Catholic Church during times when to do so would bring heavy repercussions, even death. It reminds us that we need to always bring Martin Luther's freshness of thought to all the institutionalized dogma we are presented with today, even though we may challenge those who may try to crush us and marginalize us.
A beautifully illustrated and beautifully written introduction to a great man.
This book is a powerful story of a powerful and daring man, Martin Luther, who was able to crack open the ironclad rules imposed upon people by the leaders of the Catholic Church during times when to do so would bring heavy repercussions, even death. It reminds us that we need to always bring Martin Luther's freshness of thought to all the institutionalized dogma we are presented with today, even though we may challenge those who may try to crush us and marginalize us.
A beautifully illustrated and beautifully written introduction to a great man.
September 17, 2017
'The Life and Times of Martin Luther' by Meike Roth-Beck, with illustrations by Klaus Ensikat and translation by Laura Watkinson is a timely book to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses.
The life and times of Martin Luther are condensed for younger readers. His early life, and conversion to a religious life, the indulgences, the Diet of Worms, the proclamation of the 95 Theses. Many of the Theses are explained. The later life of Martin Luther including his marriage to Kate and their home, the "black cloister." It talks about how Martin Luther translated the Bible so that the common person could read it.
The illustrations are really good, with a key at the end for all the things the illustrator put in the pictures. They are dense and somewhat dark and fit the text perfectly. The text is also perhaps a bit dense. This won't be a picture book to read to the very young, but young school age children might find it of interest.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The life and times of Martin Luther are condensed for younger readers. His early life, and conversion to a religious life, the indulgences, the Diet of Worms, the proclamation of the 95 Theses. Many of the Theses are explained. The later life of Martin Luther including his marriage to Kate and their home, the "black cloister." It talks about how Martin Luther translated the Bible so that the common person could read it.
The illustrations are really good, with a key at the end for all the things the illustrator put in the pictures. They are dense and somewhat dark and fit the text perfectly. The text is also perhaps a bit dense. This won't be a picture book to read to the very young, but young school age children might find it of interest.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
October 7, 2017
I don't have time this afternoon to write a thorough review, so I'll just leave it at this:
Illustrations- Beautiful and detailed, I love them
Writing style- A bit dry, but not bad
Biographical information- Pretty thorough considering that this is such a short book
Historical context- Could be better, several parts could be confusing or even misleading to young readers who don't have much relevant background knowledge
Theology- Pretty bad, vague on most points, but makes some faulty implications (Plus one blatant inaccuracy on page 29 where it misinterprets the phrase "false hope" and paraphrases Luther as saying "[The Church] could not promise [people] a place in heaven.") Could have been greatly improved by something as simple as quoting or referencing Luther's Small Catechism
Illustrations- Beautiful and detailed, I love them
Writing style- A bit dry, but not bad
Biographical information- Pretty thorough considering that this is such a short book
Historical context- Could be better, several parts could be confusing or even misleading to young readers who don't have much relevant background knowledge
Theology- Pretty bad, vague on most points, but makes some faulty implications (Plus one blatant inaccuracy on page 29 where it misinterprets the phrase "false hope" and paraphrases Luther as saying "[The Church] could not promise [people] a place in heaven.") Could have been greatly improved by something as simple as quoting or referencing Luther's Small Catechism
April 25, 2018
Educational and highly informative. I really recommend this book.
January 25, 2019
Nice biography, amazing illustrations.
September 12, 2017
I was excited to read and review this because I’ve studied Luther and the Reformation in college courses and through my international travels. I’ve read (okay, skimmed) several biographies of Martin Luther, and I lived in Wittenberg, Germany, for two months and visited the Wartburg Castle, Eisenach, and Erfurt.
The publisher’s website notes that The Life and Times of Martin Luther is intended for children ages 7 and up. While there are certainly sentences that cater to this age (“Martin Luther was born into a world where life was very different than it is today…”), the text is a bit heavy and lacks the context necessary for younger readers. This book is probably best suited for ages 10-12 and up. Most children this age don’t want to read picture books, but I think this concern can be mitigated by the quality of the illustrations.
The illustrations in The Life and Times of Martin Luther are not childish or cartoonish; rather, they’re realistic and very detailed. Older children can appreciate them for the depth of symbols and characters that they included. The town hall depicted alongside the Stadtkirche was actually built after 1517, and its inclusion on page 4 implies that it existed in 1517, but other than that, the details are impressive.
Ensikat details the Exsurge Domine and the bridge leading into the Wartburg Castle quite well. The colors and depictions of German churches and towns are true to life. Ensikat obviously studied drawings of Luther extensively, as Luther’s face throughout the book looks very similar to the many portraits we have of him. The likenesses of other figures, including Katharina von Bora and Philip Melanchthon, are also historically accurate. There was only one anachronistic detail that I could find: The town hall depicted on page 4 alongside the Stadtkirche was actually built after 1517. Its inclusion on page 4 implies that it existed before or during 1517, but other than that, the details in Ensikat’s illustrations are stunning.
Read the rest of my review here: http://carolinavonkampen.com/life-and...
The publisher’s website notes that The Life and Times of Martin Luther is intended for children ages 7 and up. While there are certainly sentences that cater to this age (“Martin Luther was born into a world where life was very different than it is today…”), the text is a bit heavy and lacks the context necessary for younger readers. This book is probably best suited for ages 10-12 and up. Most children this age don’t want to read picture books, but I think this concern can be mitigated by the quality of the illustrations.
The illustrations in The Life and Times of Martin Luther are not childish or cartoonish; rather, they’re realistic and very detailed. Older children can appreciate them for the depth of symbols and characters that they included. The town hall depicted alongside the Stadtkirche was actually built after 1517, and its inclusion on page 4 implies that it existed in 1517, but other than that, the details are impressive.
Ensikat details the Exsurge Domine and the bridge leading into the Wartburg Castle quite well. The colors and depictions of German churches and towns are true to life. Ensikat obviously studied drawings of Luther extensively, as Luther’s face throughout the book looks very similar to the many portraits we have of him. The likenesses of other figures, including Katharina von Bora and Philip Melanchthon, are also historically accurate. There was only one anachronistic detail that I could find: The town hall depicted on page 4 alongside the Stadtkirche was actually built after 1517. Its inclusion on page 4 implies that it existed before or during 1517, but other than that, the details in Ensikat’s illustrations are stunning.
Read the rest of my review here: http://carolinavonkampen.com/life-and...
September 9, 2017
This is a quality, well-illustrated children's book about Martin Luther and his work, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It would be too wordy for young children, but would work for older elementary to middle grade (and also for adults who want an overview/reminder).
It provides a brief introduction to the "times," then chronicles Luther's early years leading to his decision to become a monk, and then the circumstances which led to him nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
It highlights and briefly explains about 20 of the theses, focusing on the extra-biblical nature of indulgences and how their sale affected the state of the poor and people's understanding of grace.
The book then gives an overview of some of the aftermath of Luther's actions. There are no additional educational resources/recommendations here, but there are a couple pages at the end which provide notes about some of the illustrations. I didn't know anything about the "Luther rose" or the swan imagery (something later tied to Luther from a statement made by Jan Hus), so those and other details were interesting.
I appreciate that the book was able to thoroughly explain what was at stake without moralizing. This helped refresh my memory about Luther's place in history, but should also be accessible to those with little religious background.
(In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review.)
It provides a brief introduction to the "times," then chronicles Luther's early years leading to his decision to become a monk, and then the circumstances which led to him nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
It highlights and briefly explains about 20 of the theses, focusing on the extra-biblical nature of indulgences and how their sale affected the state of the poor and people's understanding of grace.
The book then gives an overview of some of the aftermath of Luther's actions. There are no additional educational resources/recommendations here, but there are a couple pages at the end which provide notes about some of the illustrations. I didn't know anything about the "Luther rose" or the swan imagery (something later tied to Luther from a statement made by Jan Hus), so those and other details were interesting.
I appreciate that the book was able to thoroughly explain what was at stake without moralizing. This helped refresh my memory about Luther's place in history, but should also be accessible to those with little religious background.
(In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review.)
December 14, 2017
Publishers are issuing many books on Martin Luther as we celebrate the 500th anniversary on the Reformation. Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church October 31, 1517. The action led to one of the greatest religious movements in history--the Protestant Reformation. Roth-Beck has written an engaging account of Luther's life for younger readers. He explains the religious culture of the time, how Luther came to be a monk, and how his studies led him to question the teachings of the church. The illustrations by Ensikat are well-done. There is a key to the illustrations at the end of the book, explaining each in further detail. While some younger readers would not be able to handle some of the vocabulary terms on their own, the book would make a great read-aloud book for parents to read and discuss with their children. The book will be very useful in Christian schools and home-schools. Even though it is aimed at a younger audience, it would provide a good overview for teens and adults interested in learning about Luther. I received an advance review copy of this title through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2018
Although a picture book biography, it is pretty detailed about the life, theses, and trials of Luther, including his death at age 62. The ink and watercolor illustrations are very detailed. In addition, the back matter points out specific people and actual places that are in the illustrations. The author being German, from Eisenach, this book was originally written in German and published in Germany in 2015. It was translated into English and published in the US in 2017. Klaus Ensikat, the artist and also from Germany, won a Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration.
July 30, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. The text, while it is for older elementary age children and has more depth than most picture book biographies, is a bit dry, and at least from what I can tell from the Netgalley preview copy I read, doesn't have tools such as a timeline or index that would have made it useful for report writers. However, the pictures include a wealth of details waiting to be discovered, and notes at the end of the book add to their value.
September 5, 2017
5 stars for this short biography of Martin Luther.
Celebrating 500 years since Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses that led to the Reformation, this concise biography is aimed at children but is also a great resource for adults. The book outlines what life was like in Germany and Europe in 1517, and sketches Luther's family background and education. The main focus of this book, however, is to explore Luther's journey towards rejecting the Catholic Church sale of Indulgences (letters of indulgence promised forgiveness of sin, for a price), his response in the form of the Ninety-Five Theses, and the consequences of this response. I particularly liked the simple, clear explanations of Luther's Theses concerning penance and grace.
This book is suitable for Christians but also works as a history/religious education resource for secular schools, since there is no pushing the reader to believe what Luther believed.
This book is well-written (by Meike Roth-Beck and translated by Laura Watkinson) and the illustrations (by Klaus Ensikat) are a delight because of their detail and meaning - so much so that the book ends with two pages of notes on the illustrations.
I received this ebook free from NetGalley and the publisher, Eerdmans.
Celebrating 500 years since Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses that led to the Reformation, this concise biography is aimed at children but is also a great resource for adults. The book outlines what life was like in Germany and Europe in 1517, and sketches Luther's family background and education. The main focus of this book, however, is to explore Luther's journey towards rejecting the Catholic Church sale of Indulgences (letters of indulgence promised forgiveness of sin, for a price), his response in the form of the Ninety-Five Theses, and the consequences of this response. I particularly liked the simple, clear explanations of Luther's Theses concerning penance and grace.
This book is suitable for Christians but also works as a history/religious education resource for secular schools, since there is no pushing the reader to believe what Luther believed.
This book is well-written (by Meike Roth-Beck and translated by Laura Watkinson) and the illustrations (by Klaus Ensikat) are a delight because of their detail and meaning - so much so that the book ends with two pages of notes on the illustrations.
I received this ebook free from NetGalley and the publisher, Eerdmans.
January 23, 2018
This engrossing biography of Martin Luther commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The longer picture book format is conducive to explaining the state of Catholicism in the Middle Ages, the beliefs that Martin Luther put forth in his theses, and the aftermath of his acts. The author gives the perfect amount of background information about the world in which Luther grew up, and encapsulates how he became a priest, and then a professor of theology. The explanation of his theses is perfectly geared to an elementary school audience. The illustrations are amazing - think of Albrecht Dürer, in color, channeled through Peter Spier. The fine black line of Ensikat's pen produces an almost photographic effect, as he captures the variety of facial expressions, physical appearances and medieval architecture and street scenes. There is so much fascinating medieval information in the art. The details in the illustrations are further explained in a note at the end. The book is a work of art.
September 25, 2017
I received this through an early reviewer program. It tells the story of Martin Luther: how he came to be a monk who was thrilled to be able to travel to Rome to meet the pope, but was then horrified to find how the faith was being abused and wrongly taught. His studies in the Scriptures had convinced him of a number of truths which were ignored or twisted by the Church and so he posted a list of them on the Wittenberg Church door, in hopes of stimulating discussion and conversation. Instead, he found his life in danger.
The illustrations are great. They are not what I would call beautiful, but the more I read the book, the more I liked them. They are down-to-earth and real, and as I spent some time really looking at them, I saw how they helped me learn a little more about the world in which Martin Luther lived.
The illustrations are great. They are not what I would call beautiful, but the more I read the book, the more I liked them. They are down-to-earth and real, and as I spent some time really looking at them, I saw how they helped me learn a little more about the world in which Martin Luther lived.
October 5, 2017
I was completely captivated by this book. First, even though it is for young readers (not small children because the vocabulary is not simple), I learned a great deal that I didn't know about Martin Luther. The illustrations are delightful. I studied each one carefully, in context with the reading and also just for the pleasure of seeing the detail and the colors. I appreciate the glossary at the end also - very helpful for a younger audience. This is a book I will keep on my shelf and enjoy myself and, hopefully, with a grandchild in the years to come.
**I received a free copy of this book through Librarything's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a free copy of this book through Librarything's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.**
January 8, 2018
Just the basic facts about Martin Luther in a title issued in honor of his birth 500 years ago in 1517. Luther’s actions of tacking his 95 theses(ideas) on the church doors challenging practices of the Catholic Church have shaped religous practices to this day. Two things I learned from this title were the meaning of “imperial ban” and also that Luther’s wife, Katharina von Bora, was a former nun. Also unique to this title were Notes on the content of the illustrations. From these notes I learned that the swan is used as a symbol for Luther. Overall a very good introduction to basic knowledge of Luther’s life.
May 24, 2017
It strikes me as being almost a secular biography of a Christian. It covers the high points of Luther’s life such as his time in the monastery, the trip to Rome, the 95 Theses, the Diet of worms, and his marriage. The connection between the sale of Indulgences and the 95 Theses is carefully explained. Roth-Beck shows that Luther believed Indulgences could never forgive anyone’s sin, but he never explains what Luther believed was the solution for sin. No Scripture is used.
I received this as a Free ARC from NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
I received this as a Free ARC from NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
July 22, 2017
This great storybook about Luther is coming out just in time to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The drawings add to the text, which is plentiful. I am not sure the exact target age for this book. Some of the topics covered are rather deep and there is a ton of text. While it still has a storybook feel, if you can get your pre-teen reader to sit down and read it on his or her own, it will provide just enough challenge and plenty of history and theology to boot.
ARC provided.
ARC provided.
August 18, 2017
The Life and Times of Martin Luther by Meike. Roth-Beck. Illustrated by Klaus Ensikat. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. EBYR. Biographies & Memoirs, Children's Nonfiction. Amazing, colorful and detailed images by a winner of the Hans Christian Andersson Award that commemorates liftime achievements accompany biographical information about Martin Luther. Recommended for your middle grade readers as a wonderful introduction to Luther and his times. Thanks to NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for providing this ebook for review.
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November 14, 2021I need to look up St. Martin of Tours, for whom this man was named... the noble deed of the saint was sharing his cloak with a beggar, well woo-hoo. (Ok, he did do a lot more: https://stmr.hwcdsb.ca/ourfaith/patron/. Too bad the book brushes off that information in such a misleading fashion.) The book also neglects to mention that the Catholic church is not as bad now as it was then. Nor does it include a bibliography.
Overall, a decent book for the right audience. I, personally, would give it two stars, but that might not be fair so I won't rate.
Overall, a decent book for the right audience. I, personally, would give it two stars, but that might not be fair so I won't rate.
August 15, 2024
A fascinating look at the ideas that founded the Protestant Church
Wittenberg, Germany, 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 theses criticizing the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. With that one defiant act, a conflict begins—a conflict that will spark the Protestant Reformation and ultimately lead to the division of the Christian church.
This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.
Wittenberg, Germany, 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 theses criticizing the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. With that one defiant act, a conflict begins—a conflict that will spark the Protestant Reformation and ultimately lead to the division of the Christian church.
This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.
June 15, 2017
The Life and Times of Martin Luther is an overview of Luther for older elementary and middle school kids. It would also be good as a Luther primer for adults who want a quick understanding of Luther. The colorful drawing illustrations are wonderful and add to the story of Luther. I received a free ARC from NetGalley.
September 14, 2017
I received this book in a librarything giveaway. I was very intrigued by the concept of a graphic novel on church history. This book's target audience is children. The illustration is beautiful and the content very educational. I would recommend this book to people with children. I believe this is a good way to interest them in the subject of church history.
September 22, 2019
The book transported me to the Middle Ages with the illustrations making the text come to life. I had never actually read any of Martin Luther's theses until reading them in this book, and I never knew that he came from a prosperous family. An excellent book for adults as well as children who are ready to learn some church history about the reasons for the Reformation.
April 25, 2023
Visīsākā Mārtiņa Lutera biogrāfija, ko jebkad esmu lasījis. Brīžiem neveikla... BET. Ja neskaita biezās teoloģijas un baznīcas vēstures grāmatas, šī ir lieliska iespēja dažu minūšu laikā uzzināt ne tikai par Mārtiņu Luteru, bet arī par Dieva žēlastību, kas ir viena no svarīgākajām Bībeles mācībām.
June 14, 2017
A short biography of Martin Luthers for children. It’s absolutely a good way to introduce the father of the Reformation to the young children
The illustrations are richly done and very detail. Very well done.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
August 6, 2017
It's a good illustration book to tell the children about the story of Martin Luther. With interesting illustrations and easy to understand story line and context, it helps the children to love and learn about Christian's history.
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