On All Hallow's Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate, but which instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. Five hundred years after Luther's now famous Ninety-five Theses appeared, acclaimed biographer Eric Metaxas paints a startling portrait of the wild figure whose adamantine faith cracked the edifice of Western Christendom and dragged medieval Europe into the future. This book tells the searing tale of a humble man who, by bringing ugly truths to the highest seats of power, caused an explosion the sound of which is still ringing in our ears. Luther's monumental faith and courage gave birth to the ideals of liberty, equality, and individualism that today lie at the heart of all modern life.--From dust jacket.

Introduction : Pastor, rebel, prophet, monk -- Beyond the myths -- Lightning strikes -- The great change -- A monk at Wittenberg -- The "Cloaca" experience -- The theses are posted -- The Diet at Augsburg -- The Leipzig debate -- The bull against Luther -- The Diet of Worms -- An enemy of the Empire -- The Wartburg -- The revolution is near -- Luther returns -- Monsters, nuns, and martyrs -- Fanaticism and violence -- Love and marriage -- Erasmus, controversy, music -- The plague and Anfechtungen return -- The Reformation comes of age -- Confronting death -- "We are beggars. This is true" -- Epilogue : The man who created the future -- Appendix : Frederick's dream.