Steven Ozment (1931–2019)

I began this book because I wanted to learn about German history. My knowledge of that subject prior to the Franco-Prussian War was very sketchy, superficial, and mostly missing, and this book seemed like a promising way to begin. Boy was I disappointed.

I can't say it wasn't well researched and written. That it was. The author, Steven Ozment, is a history professor at Harvard. What better credentials can you get? But I question what audience he was writing for. Certainly not me. He presumes way too much of his reader and the result is a cumbersome and academic read more designed with his professional colleagues in mind than the lay reader. For example, I quote the following paragraph found on page 192 of his text: "These early revolutionaries had also sought a final solution to the contradictions of history - Eckhart by a spiritual unity 'beyond all division,' Muntzer by a 'bloody cleansing' of sociopolitical establishment. Both projects, deemed Icarian by contemporaries, died aborning."

"Icarian?" That was a reference to Icarus. In Greek mythology, he attempted to escape Crete by making wings out of feathers and wax, flew too close to the sun resulting in his wings melting, and with predictable results. It is sometimes used to mean too ambitious. I am 70 years old and have never heard it used before. "Aborning." New. The process of being born. Wikipedia says it started in the mid-20th Century. Again, I have never heard this word before. By no means is this passage unique within this text.

If you are an Ivy League scholar or a well entrenched member of Mensa, then maybe try this book. Otherwise, may I suggest something else. And if you find one, let me know.… (more)

This book gives some interesting insights into merchant class life in Germany at the time. Balthasar is a merchant in Nuremberg who makes regular trips to Italy to purchase fabrics, wines and other merchandise, to the Frankfurt fair to sell and to various hot springs for his health. His wife Magdalena mostly stays at home except for visits to family members in other towns, but she not a mere housewife. She distributes merchandise, including judging the quality of wine to be sold, collects moneys owed and communicates with other members of the family business. The letters between the couple are partly business, partly personal news of family and neighbors, suggestions about items to purchase and admonitions to eat right, travel carefully and return as soon as practical. I was most surprised to learn that after the death of their 10 year old son, Magdalena was able to order an autopsy, apparently on her own authority as her husband was traveling. I had no idea that autopsies were legal or routine at the time. The editor, Steven Ozment, a specialist in Reformation era history at Harvard, interlaces the letters with commentary on the customs, religion and history of the period. Very interesting.… (more)