Presented here is the basic story of John Calvin’s life, along with numerous excerpts from his own letters, writings, commentaries and sermons. It lays out his ground-breaking political theory, which is an unparalleled contribution to human freedom. In addition to glimpses into his personal life, it also includes much about his friendships, his struggles and his literary interests. Few today realise that John Calvin led pioneering efforts to decentralise government by calling for checks and balances against the rule of the few or the rule of the king. Equally unknown are his efforts to establish a productive social safety-net for immigrants, create educational models that were far ahead of his time and instill a sense of self-worth in all citizens, regardless of their occupation or class.