Review: The Jesuits: A Thematic History by Claudio Ferlan

If the concise title were not enough, page one of the introduction makes it clear that Dr. Claudio Ferlan aims to take readers on a thematic journey to understand the history of the Society of Jesus.Yes, dates are included, as necessary, but are not meant to be the driving force of this book.Ferlan explains that while the focus of his first book, The Jesuits, was on the chronological history of the Society, here his intention is different.A benefit of focusing on themes, from this reviewer's perspective, is that it allows the reader to take in a multi-century journey through important milestones (founding, expansion, suppression, restoration, election to the papacy) without getting caught up in dates, but still emphasizing consistent through-lines.