Andrew L. Thomas explores the intersection of religion and power during the first century of the Reformation through the history of the influential Wittelsbach dynasty and their courts. Although separated by belief, the Catholic house in Bavaria and the Protestant house in the Palatinate both promoted secular and religious culture as a means to strengthen, maintain and expand their political control. The first four chapters of the book each focus on a specific cultural theme utilised by both branches of the family (education, patronage, faith, marriage), stressing the commonality of purpose (stronger rule) but the disparities in implementation due to religious differences. Wittelsbach children, Catholic and Protestant, received an education based on the ideals of Renaissance humanism and both courts supported the creation of culture as a useful tool to power-building. A similar pattern appeared in their relationship with Christianity as both sides of the family saw themselves as ‘defenders of the faith’ and participated in charity work, ecclesiastical reform and the eradication of ‘heresy’ to bolster their claims to leadership. Marriage too (and the ensuing festivities) provided an opportunity to explore notions of rule, foreign alliances and religious devotion. Chapters v–viii move away from a thematic approach, concentrating on the role of this dynasty in the Thirty Years War and following the successes and failures of the Catholic and Protestant houses. The cultural themes explored in the first half of the book and their uses become increasingly vital during this time of war. Throughout A house divided, Thomas successfully navigates between the two branches of the Wittelsbach family, exploring the ways in which religious views influenced and were influenced by political ambitions. Faith fragmented the family, but it also allowed them to express their might in the secular world. The author shows how the melding of religion, culture and politics practised by the Wittelsbach dynasty in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, although not a new concept, owed its specific characteristics more to the Renaissance and Reformation than the Middle Ages. Scholars of gender and women's history will appreciate the strong case made for the roles of Wittelsbach women as creators and receivers of the messages and images emanating from their respective courts. More than just a study of one dynasty, with its emphasis on political, cultural and religious history, A house divided reflects the dynamism of Europe in the early modern world.