Catholic and Protestant translations of the Imitatio Christi, 1425-1650: from late medieval classic to early modern bestseller

The Imitatio Christi is considered one of the classic texts of Western spirituality.

There were 800 manuscript copies and more than 740 different printed editions of the Imitatio between its composition in the fifteenth century and 1650.

During the Reformation period, the book retained its popularity with both Protestants and Catholics; with the exception of the Bible it was the most frequently printed book of the sixteenth century.