A detailed history of the life of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, who, after his murder in 1170 at the hands of four knights in the service of his former friend King Henry II, became a celebrated saint and martyr, and one of the most important figures in western Christianity. Barlow, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter, traces the rise and fall of Thomas's career, paying special attention to the more controversial elements of his life, in this thorough biography.  (GBR490, $23.95)