Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts

"Records of the Spanish Inquisition, Translated from the Original Manuscripts" is a historical account written in the early 19th century. This work provides a detailed examination of documents from the Inquisition in Barcelona, shedding light on the trials and processes employed by this notorious institution. The book presents a vivid narrative about the oppressive measures used by the Inquisition and reflects the fervor of a society grappling with issues of faith, freedom, and zealotry. The opening of the book introduces the historical background of the Spanish Inquisition, detailing its emergence and development, particularly in Catalonia. It describes a revolutionary context in 1820 when citizens of Barcelona stormed the Inquisition's palace, releasing prisoners and scattering documents into the streets, which later became the material for this publication. The text also sets the stage for individual trials, beginning with the case of Pedro Ginesta—a man accused of eating bacon on a prohibited day—illustrating the meticulous yet harsh nature of Inquisitorial proceedings. This initial glimpse into the trials reveals how personal lives were intricately tied to the dogmatic laws of the time, establishing a foundational understanding of the disturbing reality citizens faced under the Inquisition's scrutiny. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Andrew Dickson White was an American historian and educator who co-founded Cornell University, one of eight Ivy League universities in the United States, and served as its first president for nearly two decades. He was known for expanding the scope of college curricula. A politician, he had served as New York state senator and was later appointed as U.S. ambassador to Germany and Russia.