In the history of the Church, few topics have greater significance yet with so little coverage in texts such as this. It seems a topic far too often overlooked. In this work, Dr. Hughes leans heavily on Cardinal Newman before him to expound on this all-to-overlooked and under-analyzed topic of Church history. Yet Dr. Hughes makes Church history accessible in a style much easier to follow that Cardinal Newman's. The writing in this work is clear and entertaining - not just an historical treatise but in a style that is easy to follow and a pleasure to read. The ease of reading is not a reflection or implication of brevity or lack of depth; Dr. Hughes brings great depth of understanding to this topic yet does so in a style that makes those depths accessible to most readers. This work is a must have for any library of Church history.