The book of the classic of world literature reveals the ideological side of the Reformation, shows the struggle of humanists of the XVI century. against religious fanaticism. The writer draws a psychological portrait of Jean Calvin, recreates the atmosphere of despotism, religious intolerance that has developed in Calvinist Geneva. Written in 1936, the book expressed the author's position, his categorical rejection of fascism. The bright pages of the book, passionately condemning religious fanaticism, belittling the human person, suppressing reason and spiritual freedom, will become an effective weapon in atheistic propaganda. The publication is provided with a preface and notes. The translation is given in abbreviation.