"This remarkable study, combining learning, realism, and literary adroitness, brings us close to Luther. Above all, it conveys Luther's power: the intensity of his faith, the coherence of his thought, the force of his personality."--New Yorker

"A brilliant account of Luther's evolution as a man, a thinker, and a Christian. . . . Every person interested in Christianity should put this on his or her reading list."--Lawrence Cunningham, Commonweal

"When Martin Luther challenged the ruling powers of his time, the movement he initiated changed the social, political, intellectual and religious structures of western history. But what did Luther intend, and what did he actually accomplish? Heiko Oberman, internationally recognized as one of the most distinguished historians of the Reformation, addresses these questions in this readable book. Presenting a vivid portrait of a man too often portrayed as a saint or a devil, Oberman shows how Luther--passionate, courageous and stubborn--simultaneously aroused fierce loyalty in his admirers and violent antagonism among his enemies."--Elaine Pagels

"This is the biography of Luther for our time by the world's foremost authority."--Steven Ozment, Harvard University