The Council of Trent (1545 1563), the Catholic Church s attempt to put its house in order in response to the Protestant Reformation, has long been praised and blamed for things it never did. Now, in this first full one-volume history in modern times, John W. O Malley brings to life the volatile issues that pushed several Holy Roman emperors, kings and queens of France, and five popes and all of Europe with them repeatedly to the brink of disaster.

During the council s eighteen years, war and threat of war among the key players, as well as the Ottoman Turks onslaught against...