Date Posted:16:22:14 04/06/07 Fri Author: Syl Subject: Amazing Grace
Here’s a very topical one sent in by Susannah. Thought it would be a good tie-in with the recent film release. Thanks, Susannah!
TITLE: Amazing Grace
AUTHOR: Eric Metaxas
GENRE: Biography
It's rare that I meet up with a biography so compelling and entertaining that I don't want to put it down. This account of the life of William Wilberforce is that book. Many are now familiar with Wilberforce and his story from the movie of the same name. The movie can't possibly be as good!
William Wilberforce was the man who rightfully gets the lion's share of the credit for the abolition of slavery in England in the early 1800s. It was a long fight, lasting until three days before his death.
But the really interesting thing about the book is the descriptions of the state of religion and morality in 18th century England, and of course the fascinating personality of Wilberforce himself. He was only five foot three, but a giant of a humanitarian.
Metaxas deftly skewers the prevailing attitudes of England in the Georgian period, and his witty prose kept me reading late, but there is a depth of seriousness and scholarship here that also won my respect. And it had the unexpected result of making me view the 21st century world with a little more clarity also.
Even if you're not normally a non-fiction reader, I recommend this one. But bring a couple of hankies for the ending--you'll need them.
Judie, 09:25:32 04/08/07 Sun