Michael Servetus was probably unequaled in depth and breadth of the ideas, which revolutionized thinking about religion and its tenets. Servetus was a central figure in history whose fate and writings directed other people to rethink social structures, legal systems, the place of the individual in society and his/her rights to basic freedoms. In Michael Servetus, M. Hillar describes Servetus' life, his trial, martyrdom, the basic tenets of his religious beliefs, and the inspiration which he gave to Sebastian Castellio for rethinking the whole issue of freedom of inquiry. Based on original documents and writings, this book summarizes all new discoveries about Servetus made in the last half century. It also includes a number of pictorial presentations to add visual interest and understanding of Servetus and his time.

"In sum, the author provides a valuable service to the general reader by relating the story of Servetus in layman's terms from a wealth of primary sources, many of which are quoted at length in translation." - Renaissance Quarterly

"This is a useful piece of scholarship and an important resource for all future studies of Servetus' life and thought and of the early modern period in general." - Sixteenth Century Journal

"This is a useful piece of scholarship and an important resource for all future studies of Servetus' life and thought and of the early modern period in general." - Sixteenth Century Journal

"In sum, the author provides a valuable service to the general reader by relating the story of Servetus in layman's terms from a wealth of primary sources, many of which are quoted at length in translation." - Renaissance Quarterly