Maria Dowling – författare

Located at the heart of Europe between east and west, Czechoslovakia was the pivot of twentieth-century European history. Created in 1918 out of the ruins of an empire, it remained a beacon of democracy in a continent darkened by fascism and communism. But unable to resist the machinations of greater powers, it succumbed to Nazi invasion and partition on the eve of World War II. After that conflict it underwent a communist dictatorship, which was lightened only briefly by the Prague Spring of 1968. Finally, the Czechoslovaks reclaimed liberty and democracy in the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Maria Dowling's history of Czechoslovakia engages with themes of perennial interest--nationalism, democracy, and authoritarian rule--and as well as guiding the reader through the particularly rich and varied experiences of Czechoslovakia, illuminates the nature of government, power, and culture in twentieth-century Europe.

First published in 1986, Humanism in the Age of Henry VIII is concerned with the flourishing humanism outside the religious and political spheres in many different fields and its intellectual and cultural impact on the schools and universities and in the realm of private study, paying particular attention to English contacts with European humanists. It is notorious that the renaissance reached England comparatively late but in the early sixteenth century the new learning was enthusiastically welcomed by the young Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.During Henry's long reign both the religious emphasis of humanism and the King’s needs changed and this book investigates the relation of humanists to religious policy. The qualities and accomplishments of the renaissance gentleman are also considered, as is the influence of the new learning on the studies and status of women. This is an important historical reference work for scholars and researchers of British history.