Overview

Catholic polemical works, and their portrayal of Protestants in print in particular, are the central focus of this work.

Printing and Catholic Response

In contrast with Germany, French Catholics used printing effectively and aggressively to promote the Catholic cause. In seeking to explain why France remained a Catholic country, the French Catholic response must be taken into account.

Strategies Against the Reformation

Rather than confront the Reformation on its own terms, the Catholic reaction concentrated on discrediting the Protestant cause in the eyes of the Catholic majority.

Goals and Significance

This book aims to contribute to the ongoing debate over the nature of the French Wars of Religion, to explain why they were so violent and why they engaged the loyalties of such a large portion of the population. This study also provides an example of the successful defence of Catholicism developed independently and in advance of Tridentine reform which is of wider significance for the history of the Reformation in Europe.