When the British thought of themselves as a Protestant nation their natural enemy was the pope and they adapted their view of history accordingly. In contrast, Rome's perspective was always considerably wider and its view of Britain was almost invariably positive, especially in comparison to medieval emperors, who made and unmade popes, and post-medieval Frenchmen, who treated popes with contempt. As the twenty-first-century papacy looks ever more firmly beyond Europe, this new history examines political, diplomatic and cultural relations between the popes and Britain from their vague origins, through papal overlordship of England, the Reformation and the process of repairing that breach.
Stella Fletcher is Associate Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Renaissance at Warwick University. She has taught at the universities of Manchester and Liverpool and at King Alfred's College, Winchester. She is the author of Cardinal Wolsey: A Life in Renaissance Europe.
‘The Popes and Britain is an ambitious project. Stella Fletcher’s book covers the complexities of a changing history both political and religious for Britain and the Papacy. From the early tensions between northern and southern Europe, to the significance of the monarchical character of the Papacy for post-Reformation relations, through to the gradual development of diplomatic representation, Stella Fletcher’s broad canvass tells a fascinating story, encompassing Scottish and Irish as well as English perspectives. This book fills a gap.’ - Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell
Imprint: I.B.Tauris
Publisher: I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd.
Hardback
ISBN: 9781784534936
Publication Date: 29 Jun 2017
Number of Pages: 320
Height: 216
Width: 138
Illustrations: 20 integrated bw