Defining religious persecution as "repressive actions initiated or condoned by authorities against their own people on religious grounds," Engh traces the harm done in the name of religion from antiquity to the present day. The survey covers religious intolerance around the world and does not single out any country or people as particularly good or evil. Engh, a novelist, writes for the general reader but includes references for further study. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)