Mack P. Holt is Professor of History at the George Mason University. His previous publications include The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle during the Wars of Religion (1986) and Renaissance and Reformation France, 1500–1648 (2002, ed.).

• Introduction; Chronological table of events; 1. Prologue: Gallicanism and reform in the sixteenth century; 2. 'The beginning of a tragedy': the early wars of religion, 1562–70; 3. Popular disorder and religious tensions: the making of a massacre, 1570–4; 4. The rhetoric of resistance: the unmaking of the body politic, 1574–84; 5. Godly warriors: the crisis of the league, 1584–93; 6. Henry IV and the edict of Nantes: the remaking of Gallicanism; 7. Epilogue: the last war of religion, 1610–29; 8. Conclusions: economic impact, social change and absolutism; Short biographies; Genealogical charts; Suggestions for further reading.

'This book is the first comprehensive study of the wars to appear for over twenty years … it succeeds admirably in steering the reader through the confusing morass that is the history of the French Wars of Religion and provides the reader with a concise summary of current academic thinking on the matter … it would provide those members wishing to learn more about the ones with an excellent starting point.' Arquebusier 24:3