Q is a novel by Luther Blissett, the nom de plume of four Bolognans identified by Time Magazine as Roberto Bui, Giovanni Cattabriga, Federico Guglielmi and Luca Di Meo.[1].

It is in print, with an edition issued in Orlando by Harcourt in 2004 with ISBN 0151010633.

The book follows the journey of an Anabaptist radical across Europe in the first half of the 16th century as he joins in various movements and uprisings that come as a result of the Protestant reformation. The book spans 30 years as he is pursued by Q, a spy for the Roman Catholic Church cardinal Giovanni Pietro Carafa. The main character, who changes many names during the story, first fights in the Peasants' War beside Thomas Müntzer, then he is in Münster siege, during the Münster Rebellion, and some years later, in Venice.

Characters and events

Peasants' War

• Thomas Müntzer – Reformation pastor and Anabaptist;
• 15 May 1525 - Battle of Frankenhausen

Münster Rebellion

• Jan van Leiden – Münster rebellion anabaptist leader and King
• Jan Matthys – anabaptist leader and alleged prophet
• Melchior Hoffman – anabaptist prophet
• Bernhard Rothmann – anabaptist theologist
• Franz von Waldeck – prince-bishop of Münster and army chief in the siege of the city
• Bernhard Knipperdolling – guild leader in Münster city council and anabaptist leader

Antwerp

• Anton Fugger – banker
• Eloy Pruystick – Reformation leader

Venice

• João Miquez – merchant
• Giovanni Pietro Carafa – cardinal, later Pope Paul IV
• Reginald Pole – cardinal

External link

• Review of Q - from Mennonite Quarterly Review, an Anabaptist journal