Argula von Grumbach (1492–1554/7)

"With his world-class expertise of this period, his judicious balance, and his sparkling prose style, Matheson strikes me as Argula's ideal biographer. Unless additional Argula writings come to light, it is hard to imagine a biography that will supersede this one."

--Denis Janz, Loyola University New Orleans



"Argula von Grumbach comes to life, nearly five hundred years after her dramatic entrance on the early Reformation scene. . . . It is a fascinating story, from the tournament world of high German nobility to the practical daily tasks of a strong and savvy woman determined to keep her family and villagers safe, fed, and properly educated in the faith."

--Elsie McKee, Princeton Theological Seminary



"Matheson once again enlists his sharp scholarly rigor and exceptional narrative skill to explore the life and writings of this remarkable female contemporary of Martin Luther. Argula von Grumbach comes to life in these pages, revealing a world where women were supposed to remain silent but did not always do so. Thanks to Matheson's account, scholars, students, and general readers alike can enter the world of the German Reformation, seen through a woman's eyes. The result surprises and inspires."

--Camilla Russell, University of Newcastle, Australia