Francis Edwards SJ, Robert Persons: The Biography of an Elizabethan Jesuit

Historically, Robert Persons was the most significant Jesuit on the English scene from 1580 until his death in 1610. His life spanned the years which determined the future of England as a Protestant country with a persistent Catholic minority. Since Parliament in 1559 had defined Catholicism as treason, Persons, as a most active protagonist of his faith, inevitably supplied historians with someone to fill the role of archtraitor, most especially since he espoused the help of Spain for survival. The truth is never simple, and this scholarly, carefully researched biography attempts both to portray Persons in depth and to unravel some of the religious complications of the time. Persons’s work in founding or strengthening English colleges abroad ensured a continuing Catholic priesthood throughout the persecutions until emancipation. His life touched all the religio political controversies of the time. Written in clear (if trenchant) English, his books deserve attention by any serious historian of the period. His Christian Directory became a handbook of spirituality not only for Catholics but also—perhaps surprisingly—for Protestants as well.

About $38.78 or €36.17 paperback; $40.65 or €37.92 hardback