RATING: 4/5 STARS
An avid reader of historical fiction, I appreciated Loving Luther’s delightfully detailed portrait of Katharina (“Katie”) von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther – a prominent leader in the Protestant Reformation. Despite the title, Loving Luther was less about Katie’s relationship with Martin, and more of a creative, coming-of-age autobiography.
The love story was slowly-paced, but this makes sense considering there’s little historical evidence for the couple’s romance prior to being wed. While I’ve heard of the strong marriage between Katie and Luther, Mrs. Pittman provides a sweet picture of their possible friendship and short courtship beforehand.
With that said, the novel has beautiful characterization, good spiritual lessons on freedom in Christ, and intriguing historical insights. I enjoyed seeing Katie’s background and personality brought to life, because I knew so little about her. We receive a thorough idea of Katie’s spunky, witty, and courageous nature, as well as a window into her emotional struggles.
The inside look at life in the nunnery and the legalism of the Catholic Church in that day was eye-opening, setting a backdrop for the reader about what Luther was facing during the Reformation era. I also appreciated Mrs. Pittman’s ability to sprinkle humor and sentimental details into Katie’s first-person perspective, using unspoken language to reveal the heart behind characters around her.
An enjoyable read, overall I would recommend it but it may not be what you expect.
Thank you Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Do you love historical romance? Buy Loving Luther here:
To learn more about Martin Luther and his wife Katie, I also recommend these articles:
Katharina Von Bora Luther: A Worthy Example of Marriage by Revive Our Hearts
Martin Luther on Marriage as the School of Character by The Gospel Coalition
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