“The Inquisition”… A word shrouded in dark legends. It is blamed for numerous executions, terrible tortures, and thousands of innocent victims. But is everything really that clear-cut? In her book, Sergei Nechaev objectively examines this phenomenon and describes in detail the history of the Inquisition, starting from its origin. The author relies on historians’ writings, medieval documents of the era, and testimonies from contemporaries. He tells about the famous court proceedings against Joan of Arc and Gilles de Rais, as well as the Spanish Inquisition—traditionally (and fairly?) considered the most brutal. This book is an excellent way to look at well-known events of the past and historical figures from an unusual angle, improve your erudition, and form your own opinion about an important component of European history.