Backus, of the University of Geneva, presents an unusual study of the writing of biographies of Reformation leaders. She considers the lives written by supporters of the reformers and also those by their detractors. The main subjects are the giants of the Reformation, Luther and Calvin. Backus contends that most of the lives of Luther made a conscious attempt to avoid any taint of saint veneration. They were meant to show him as only working through God. It is the message that matters, not the messenger. The negative lives dwell more on his personal character, or lack thereof. The biographies of Calvin were fairly sparse from his followers. The vitriolic attacks from Catholic pens were much more numerous and long lasting. By placing this rarely-studied literary form in the context of the radical social and political changes of the time, she contributes an important facet to early modern history. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)