The impact of Philip Melanchthon upon Lutheranism cannot be underestimated. Yet Melanchthon is often overlooked and he remains one of the most enigmatic figures of the Reformation. It is within Dr. Robert Stupperich's incisive portrayal of a man, acclaimed as 'the preceptor of Germany' in his lifetime, that the reader can uncover the secrets of a layman who directly influenced Luther. Melanchthon struggled with contemporary powers, yet his persistence and drive resulted in him becoming the chief architect of Germany's school system and also a chief negotiator between statesmen and...