Book excerpt: For many years the history of the Protestant Reformation has been presented largely as a single movement and from the standpoint of a chosen hero such as Luther, Zwingli, or Calvin. This traditional treatment creates the impression that the Reformation was a once-for-all event in the life of the church rather than a permanent aspect of the church's existence. 'Reformers in Profile' takes the position that the Reformation era was one of many reformations. These reformations were led by men often characterized as 'lesser lights' and little known by the general public. Each of these men had his own vision of what the reformation of the church entailed and each had his program to translate vision into reality.The ten reformers profiled here (each by a recognized expert) are presented as representatives of a type or vision of reform: humanist, Protestant, radical, and Catholic. Each profile reviews the career, approach, and contribution of its subject so that the reader will have a clear view of what each reformer stood for and how he pursued his goal.