A History of the Inquisition of Spain

Henry Charles Lea (1825-1909) was an American historian, civic reformer, and political activist. He focused mainly on church history in the later Middle Ages, and on institutional, legal, and ecclesiastical history, as well as magic and witchcraft. Lea also did significant work on the history of the Italian city-states. His active writing career on historical subjects spanned more than fifty years, during which Lea published ten books and numerous articles. His literary reputation rests largely on those books. Highly disciplined work habits (and the ability to purchase manuscripts in Europe and Latin America and have them shipped to Philadelphia) led Lea to continue writing despite even headaches and eye problems. He became an authority on the Spanish Inquisition, and his multi-volume work was considered groundbreaking.