author
James Westfall Thompson
1869–1941
A leading American historian of medieval and early modern Europe, he wrote sweeping, deeply researched books on France, the Holy Roman Empire, and the history of reading and libraries. His work helped bring the world of the Middle Ages into clearer focus for generations of students and general readers.
1 Audiobook
The Wars of Religion in France 1559-1576 The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Philip II
by James Westfall Thompson
About the author
Born on June 3, 1869, James Westfall Thompson was an American historian whose scholarship centered on medieval and early modern Europe. He is especially associated with the history of France and the Holy Roman Empire, and he also made lasting contributions to the study of literacy, libraries, and the medieval book trade.
Thompson taught at the University of Chicago and later at the University of California, Berkeley. He became well known for combining broad historical storytelling with careful archival work, and his books were widely used by students and readers interested in European history.
He died on September 30, 1941. Although some details of his life are less commonly discussed today, his reputation as a major interpreter of medieval Europe has endured through his scholarly writing and teaching.