Tedious but useful

This is the second volume of Quentin Skinner's “The Foundations of Modern Political Thought”. It's better edited and hence somewhat easier to read than the first one. However, it's not a work for the general public, but rather for advanced students of the subjects covered. Even I found it a tedious read.

The second volume deals with the 16th century, more specifically the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. Some of Skinner's conclusions are surprising. It turns out that neither Luther nor Calvin originally supported violent resistance against ungodly rulers, and that the Lutherans were the first to change their minds. That being said, the Protestant Reformation is “common knowledge” in the Anglosphere, so to most readers the section on Vitoria, Suárez and other Counter-Reformation thinkers might be of more interest. On one point, the two volumes overlap: both mention Thomas More, although he is more extensively treated in the first one (who also spouts his portrait on the front cover).

One problem with Skinner's book is his tendency to get lost in the constitutional theorizing, not to mention the theological speculations, often treating these as the cause of events. Perhaps I'm more cynical, but surely Luther's class and political positions explain more?

That being said, I will nevertheless give this study four stars.