Sergei Nechaev’s book offers an objective study of the history of the Inquisition, starting from its origins. The author draws on historians’ writings, medieval documents, and accounts from contemporaries. He examines in detail the famous court trials of Joan of Arc and Gilles de Rais, as well as the Spanish Inquisition, widely considered the most brutal. The book aims to help readers look at well-known events of the past and historical figures from a new angle, improve their erudition, and form their own opinion about an important part of European history.