The Early Years of John Calvin, 1509-1536

What it is

This book is a biographical study of Calvin's early life, covering 1509 to 1536. It was written by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie and published in 1880, with hundreds of notes citing many earlier authors. The surviving manuscript was unfinished, so the book was edited and completed by William Ferguson after M'Crie's death.

Why it matters

The book is a secondary source, written centuries after Calvin lived, drawing together earlier accounts to explain how a young Frenchman became a leading figure of the Protestant Reformation. It shows how later historians used older documents to reconstruct Calvin's conversion and training.

Look closer

• Why might a historian focus specifically on someone's early years rather than their whole life?
• What does the large number of footnotes and references tell you about how this book was researched?
• How might a book finished by someone else after the author's death differ from one the author completed himself?