The foundation of Luther's theology have been laid long before the ninety-five these - in fact, that it was his theology which drove him into practical opposition not his practical opposition which drove him to formulate a theology." From the back of the book.

This small book assumes more knowledge of both the biographical facts of Luther's life, and the intellectual and theological history concerning the Reformation than I possess. However, this is not a weakness in the book, and I am happy that I did learn that in fact there is a vast scholarly literature on these subjects, and got a glimpse of its depth.
The author sets forth an interesting thesis that Luther was the personification of the culmination of historical and intellectual forces that toppled the old order; and concomitantly notes that Luther was himself conscious that he was the means, and not the cause, of profound changes in the religious life of the common man.