Luther's Fortress

From a celebratedreligious scholar comes a riveting account of the Catholic Church's failedattempt to crush Martin Luther and his Reformation.In 1521, the CatholicChurch was hunting for Martin Luther. Angered by the Christian reformer'sunapologetic criticisms of the Church, the Holy Roman Emperor had called forhim 'to be apprehended and punished as a notorious heretic.' Knowing that inquisitors would murder the monk and crush his fragile movement if they caughthim, Luther's followers spirited him away to Wartburg Castle in centralGermany. There Luther hid for the next eight months as his fate-and that of theReformation-hung in the balance.In Luther's Fortress, acclaimed religious historian James Reston Jr.describes this crucial but little-known episode in Luther's life. While atWartburg, Luther translated the Bible, fought his inner demons, and heldtogether his fractious and increasingly radicalized movement from afar. Agripping portrait of the theologian at a transformational moment, Luther's Fortress reveals how Luther andhis Reformation emerged from Wartburg Castle stronger than ever.