Life During the Spanish Inquisition

School Library Journal

Gr 7 UpStewart focuses on the political and religious climate of the period rather than daily life; therefore, while she does give readers a basic understanding of the Inquisition, the title is slightly misleading. The first chapters discuss Europe's various attitudes toward its Jewry and the frequent heating up and spilling over of prejudice, leading to persecution and violence and forced conversions. The book goes on to demonstrate how the Inquisition was rekindled in Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, and how a fearful populace contributed to tyranny over and betrayal of not only Jews and marranos (converts), but of virtually anyone who aroused the suspicion of the inquisitors. It discusses the Catholic monarchs' conflicts with the Pope, and Torquemada's rise to power. All manner of torture and the punishments an accused person might be subjected to are described in graphic detail. One small but noticeable error: Jean Plaidy (Eleanor Hibbert) is mentioned as being a male. The book's brevity and numerous black-and-white archival illustrations, along with a number of maps, will appeal to students needing information for reports.Jo-Anne Weinberg, Greenburgh Public Library, NY