The Spanish Inquisition; A History

This is the story of the battle for a unified faith that plunged Spain into 350 years of terror. Joseph Perez explores the frightening history of the Spanish Inquisitionits interrogations, torture, and executions; the inner workings of its councils and courts; its methods of policing information and enforcing behavioras well as its long-term impact on the nation. "[This] scholarly and vivid recasting of a painful era in which 32,000 innocent people went to the stake is a salutary reminder of the potential savagery occasioned by religion."John Cornwell,Sunday Times(London) "[Its] qualities of concision and clarity make it a pleasure to read."Times Literary Supplement

JOSEPH PÉREZ is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Bordeaux and Honorary Director of the Velázquez Museum in Madrid.