A history of the Catholic Church after the French Revolution through the story of the 'Döllinger affair'. Ignaz von Döllinger (1799-1890), was a leading critic of Pope Pius IX and in particular the doctrine of Papal Infallibility defined during the First Vatican Council. In this compelling and beautifully-written book, Howard traces the life and work of the great church historian Ignaz von Döllinger against the backdrop of European history. It is far more than a simple biography of one of the leading opponents of the First Vatican Council: it is also a brilliant account of the interaction of politics, church, and theology in a period of unprecedented change. Howard has drawn on a wide range of sources to produce a masterly introduction to nineteenth-century Catholicism.