'Kevin Gould provides us with an interesting insight into Catholic activism in southern France during the critical decades of the early civil wars.' Catholic Herald ’Catholic Activism is a brilliantly researched and well-written book that breaks new ground in our understanding of local and regional strategies prior to and during the Wars of Religion...This book should be mandatory reading for all scholars of sixteenth-century religious history.’ Renaissance Quarterly ’There is a strong narrative line through the cases studies and the book holds the reader's interest easily. There is good cross-referencing about individuals and themes within the nine substantive chapters. The introduction is clear and the conclusion judicious in its findings. These qualities will doubtless appeal to specialist historians of the period, but will also be useful to graduate students as well as final year undergraduates looking for a clear exposition of the impact of the Wars of Religion on a local area and the relevant historiography... His book is written with clarity, conviction, and a certain verve...’ H-France Review ’... A notable strength of this book is its lucid analysis of the different strands of Catholic opposition that emerged in the regions surrounding Bordeaux, Agen, and Toulouse by 1560, and the gradual coalescence of these strands into an effective Catholic coalition. Gould uses an impressive array of primary sources ranging from royal correspondence, the registers of the Parlements, town council deliberations, and military documents as well as contemporary memoirs and chronicles ... Gould's book excels as a political study of relations between regional elites and makes a convincing case for identifying an effective Catholic opposition in France long before the emergence of the Catholic league.’ Sixteenth Century Journal ’Catholic Activism in South-West France is based on solid and extensive archival research. Gould does an excellent job of tracing