Anticlericalism in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe

Leiden; (1993): E.J. Brill. First Edition. Thick Large Octavo. xi, 706 pages. Three main issues underlie the volume's approach: the meaning of anticlericalism as a historical concept and development over time. The word "anticlericalism" originated in the nineteenth century as a description for lay resistance to the political power of the clergy, but the anachronistic application of the concept to the conditions of early modern Europe has obscured the variety of anticlerical expressions that existed in practice. Perhaps the volume 's most basic contribution is to acquaint its readers with the diversity of anticlerical feeling in the historical sources. (truncated) Besides Susan C. Karant-Nunn's work on Clerical Anticlericalism in the Early German Reformation, the work of the late Donald Weinstein on Italian anticlericalism demonstrates how extensive the term could be applied. His colleague whose "Anticlericalism as an Agent of Change" remains the essential beginning place to grasp the concept. The List of abbreviations contains sigla commonly used throughout the volume, Thematic Bibliography, with indexes of subjects, personal and place names as well as the supplementary bibliography assists those who only wish to see the concept in a specific contest. A fine copy bound in blue cloth lettered and stamped in gilt, spine lettering gilt, in a fine dust jacket lettered in white, decorated in black. (Inventory #: 031519)