Any new book by Alister McGrath is an event, and this one is no exception. Though it is neither a contribution to Reformation scholarship nor a work of popularization, it is valuable as a tool for budding Reformation scholars. It possesses a number of virtues.

The first arises from the very fact that it is an introduction to Reformation thought. For too long the Reformation has been hijacked by political and social historians, especially those who have an ideological axe to grind. It is good to be reminded, somewhat forcefully, that other things were involved and were in fact central. These, as it happens, were religious ideas.

Another virtue is that it is an introduction which introduces by a process, not of simplification, but of explanation and elucidation. The student is informed of the current state of research in language which is understandable but not patronizing. Recent hypotheses are succinctly summarized, and technical terms are clearly explained.

Furthermore, the swimmer in historical waters is gently guided from the shallow to the deep end of the pool. He is provided with numerous bibliographies—short lists of books for further reading at the end of each chapter, a ‘select bibliography’ consisting of 46 items, and a 13-page ‘supplementary annotated bibliography’ (whose system of annotation, it has to be said, is the one infuriating feature of the book, as far as this reader is concerned). A total of seven appendices encourage the reader to probe more deeply into the subject. They range from the elementary (a glossary of theological and historical terms and a chronology of political and intellectual history) to the almost abstruse (e.g. on finding and using major primary sources).

The content of the book is appropriate to its purpose. The introduction deals with various preliminary matters—the demand for reform, the concept of ‘reformation’, the importance of printing, the social context (briefly), and the religious ideas of the Reformers (in the broadest of terms). The main chapters are on late medieval religion (all too brief), humanism, scholasticism, grace, Scripture, sacraments, the church and political thought: a feast of good things.

The question is bound to arise whether a Luther scholar has been able to do justice to the other Reformers. No doubt the Calvin and Anabaptist specialists will make their laments, but the verdict of a generalist with a special interest in Luther is that the bias is there, but not seriously so.

The one small question about this book is: for whom is it targeted? Obviously intended for the undergraduate, it is particularly suited to the student with special interest in the Reformation who is anxious not only to swim in the deep end but to dive into it! It would be a thousand pities if the less able student for whom it would be so helpful were to be deterred by some of the appendices.

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