Dawson, Christopher. The Dividing of Christendom. New York: Sheed and Ward, Inc., 1965.

Christopher Dawson was born in Wales and west to school at Winchester and at Trinity College in Oxford. He became a member of the Catholic Church in 1914 and subsequently worked for twelve years as a lecturer at the University College in Exeter and he later taught at the Edinburgh and Liverpool Universities. Later, at Harvard University, he became the first Charles Chauncey Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies in 1958. Dawson wrote other books about historical influence such as The Making of Europe, The Crisis of Western Education, and The Movement of World Revolution.

The author’s book, The Dividing of Christendom, covers a period of history from the Reformation to the French Revolution, and is based on several lectures made by the author himself when he held his position as Charles Chauncey Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies at Harvard University. This is an excellent source of information, having in depth studies of a time period so relevant to modern day. This book includes chapters describing in detail many specifically events, people, and locations that were relevant to the dividing and metamorphosis of the Christian church and its subsequent branches. Beginning with events happening during the medieval era thirteenth century and the effects that occurrences had on the people’s view of the Catholic Church and ending with the Age of Enlightenment in the nineteenth century, this book also compares and contrasts Puritan England and Puritan America. The author also brings the point that the understanding of how the great breaks in the church occurred could facilitate a stronger belief that all belong together who believe that Christ is their Savior.