content: If you want to know the real horrors of a theocracy, then read this book! Though the book covers many areas, including exploration, great art, and everyday life, the real subject here is the incredible nastiness of so much 15th-16th century Christianity, culminating in horrors of beheading or burning "heretics", torturing of scientists,debaucheries even beyond those so well advertised in the present era, and tons more. Calvin's Church-State in Geneva was apparently as depraved as their Catholic enemies in Rome, etc. The story of Luther is among the best I've encountered, not to mention the Renaissance popes. This book is a great read, by one of our finest popular historians, and though it's subject is somewhat unusual for the late great Mr. Manchester, the notes and research amply give proof to his text!