After his father is wrongfully convicted of seditious libel against King Henry VIII, young Thomas Warlingham must navigate the dangerous political landscape of the 16th-century Reformation to restore his family's honor. Thomas seeks to clear his father's name by traveling to Cologne to assist in the clandestine printing of the English Bible. He faces constant opposition from royal authorities and religious censors who view the translated text as a threat to the established order. The narrative follows his progression from an apprentice printer to an active participant in the smuggling of forbidden literature back into England, operating under the constant threat of arrest and execution.

Discussion often centers on the book's effectiveness as a historical primer rather than a compelling narrative. Readers frequently highlight the detailed descriptions of 16th-century London and the technical aspects of early printing as the primary strengths of the work. Conversely, critics often note that the protagonist's actions lack sufficient motivation and that the broader theological implications of the Reformation remain underdeveloped. The consensus suggests that while the book serves as a functional educational tool for visualizing the period, the central plot remains secondary to the historical backdrop.