The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision
Mention the Spanish Inquisition and immediately thoughts of brutal torture and  callous witch-hunts spring to mind. Popular belief holds up this infamous institution as a  symbol of religious and political intolerance--against the Protestants, Jews, Catholic  heretics, and political orders such as the Knights Templar. Yet when Henry Kamen first wroteThe Spanish Inquisitionin 1965, he argued that the Inquisition was not as  powerful or cruel as commonly conceived.This updated version of Kamen's hypothesis continues and reaffirms his original  arguments. In this edition, Kamen provides additional evidence derived mostly from  monographic studies conducted by other scholars that separates myth from reality;  Kamen suggests that the Inquisition did not enjoy widespread popularity, in Spain or the  rest of Europe, and that it was used as a device to scare off enemies. He also concludes  that the failure of the Spanish populace to accept Lutheran principles had more to do with  popular indifference toward Protestantism than interference from the Inquisition. Though  Kamen's book is occasionally lacking in social analysis, this revisionist overview of the   Inquisition's impact on Europe is rich in detail and will appeal to anyone who has an  interest in this period.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.