Following Cardinal Basil Hume's death on 17 June 1999, The Times concluded his obituary with a remarkable accolade: 'Few churchmen in this century, inside or outside the Catholic Church, have died more deeply loved.' Basil Hume served as Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster for twenty-three years - a reign which symbolised the acceptance of Britain's five million catholics into the country's social fabric. His personal holiness and wisdom made him an extraordinary leader who was respected by secular Britain as well as Catholics. In this enthralling biography, Anthony Howard, who has had unique access to Cardinal Hume's private papers and the people who knew him best, traces his life, from his Newcastle upbringing through to his schooling at Ampleforth and his reign at Westminster, including his long and ultimately successful fight on behalf of the Maguire Seven and the Guildford Four.
Basil Hume: The Monk Cardinal
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'...with admirable good judgement...[Anthony Howard] is at his best in recounting the more political activities of Hume.' -- Sunday Times, 12 June 2005
'A delight to read... An insightful and authoritative assessment of Basil Hume's religious and policitcal role' -- Observer
'Anthony Howard has done Hume a service with this erudite and eminently readable biography of a remarkable man'. -- Independent on Sunday, 10 July 2005
'Anthony Howard should persuade even the most secular reader that this Monk Cardinal was worthy of attention.' -- Catholic Herald
'Anthony Howard understands the workings of Establishments, political and religious, and is an excellent guide to Father Basil's quiet effectiveness.' -- Daily Mail, 17 June 2005
'A delight to read... An insightful and authoritative assessment of Basil Hume's religious and policitcal role' -- Observer
'Anthony Howard has done Hume a service with this erudite and eminently readable biography of a remarkable man'. -- Independent on Sunday, 10 July 2005
'Anthony Howard should persuade even the most secular reader that this Monk Cardinal was worthy of attention.' -- Catholic Herald
'Anthony Howard understands the workings of Establishments, political and religious, and is an excellent guide to Father Basil's quiet effectiveness.' -- Daily Mail, 17 June 2005
About the Author
Anthony Howard is a distinguished political observer who has been editor of both the Listener and the New Statesman and has written for the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the Observer. He currently writes a weekly political column for The Times and is well known to viewers of BBC TV's 'Panorama' and 'Newsnight', as well as many other political programmes. In 1997, he was made a CBE and now lives in London and Shropshire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Rarely have I read a biography that has that 'do not want to put it down'factor. This book is just that.
Beautifully written and brilliantly researched about a man who changed the image of Catholicism in England and Wales by simple humility and total devotion. Anthony Howard writes with great skill and tracks Basil Humes'life with a great respect and handles the difficult times with commendable grace.
The book covers the difficult periods such as the ordination of women into the C of E, homosexuality and Basil's firm handling on all matters with the Vatican.
The descriptions of Basil Hume as a rugby coach,squash player and school master contrasts with his gentleness and compassion over Princess Diana's death and the acceptance of his own, are remarkable in the eloquence of Howard's mastery of English.
Basil Humes' bulldog tenacity in helping to obtain justice for the alleged perpetrators of the Guildford and Birmingham atrocitcies are explained in a no nonsence style where Howard has drawn on his journalistic experiences.
Yet this biography has none of the usual snipping that others from his proffession would bring to the subject of Christianity.
It is a book to be cherished and referred to when the chips are down as it should uplift anybody irrelevant of their faith.
Beautifully written and brilliantly researched about a man who changed the image of Catholicism in England and Wales by simple humility and total devotion. Anthony Howard writes with great skill and tracks Basil Humes'life with a great respect and handles the difficult times with commendable grace.
The book covers the difficult periods such as the ordination of women into the C of E, homosexuality and Basil's firm handling on all matters with the Vatican.
The descriptions of Basil Hume as a rugby coach,squash player and school master contrasts with his gentleness and compassion over Princess Diana's death and the acceptance of his own, are remarkable in the eloquence of Howard's mastery of English.
Basil Humes' bulldog tenacity in helping to obtain justice for the alleged perpetrators of the Guildford and Birmingham atrocitcies are explained in a no nonsence style where Howard has drawn on his journalistic experiences.
Yet this biography has none of the usual snipping that others from his proffession would bring to the subject of Christianity.
It is a book to be cherished and referred to when the chips are down as it should uplift anybody irrelevant of their faith.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When picturing the late Cardinal Hume, an image of a tall, elegant, somewhat unworldly man would be a common image. This book gives a well-written substance to this based on the subject's private papers. It explores Hume's intellectual journey on how a teaching monk from Ampleforth became leader of England and Wales' Catholic congregation. The author deals with the daily tasks that cardinal performed to support his community.
This pastoral care extended to the mixed ethnic community that composed the Catholic congregation, which during the trouble 70s extended to championing the cause of imprisoned Irish prisoners such as the Maguire seven to achieve a measure justice.
The author does mention on occasion when the Cardinal was wrong-footed by events and made mis-judgements. These were at times compounded by his innate tetchiness. However, in each case Cardinal Hume attempted to ground his response in Christian charity and whilst he had foes, at least they were not embittered enemies.
The final section of book, on the Cardinal's passing, is one the engaged reader would mark with sadness and perhaps a measure of wryness at the mix of humility & pomp at the funeral that summed up the public image of Cardinal Hume.
This pastoral care extended to the mixed ethnic community that composed the Catholic congregation, which during the trouble 70s extended to championing the cause of imprisoned Irish prisoners such as the Maguire seven to achieve a measure justice.
The author does mention on occasion when the Cardinal was wrong-footed by events and made mis-judgements. These were at times compounded by his innate tetchiness. However, in each case Cardinal Hume attempted to ground his response in Christian charity and whilst he had foes, at least they were not embittered enemies.
The final section of book, on the Cardinal's passing, is one the engaged reader would mark with sadness and perhaps a measure of wryness at the mix of humility & pomp at the funeral that summed up the public image of Cardinal Hume.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although living in Canada throughout the time Basil Hume was Archbishop of Westminster, I had heard enough about this extraordinary man to want to know more about his life and work.
Anthony Howard's lucid style has captured, in a few hundred pages, a vivid picture of a great Englishman and a prelate who significantly influenced religious attitudes in Britain for more than two decades.
Howard's explanation of lesser-known ecclesiastical terminology was helpful as was having footnotes where footnotes should be - at the foot of the page!
An excellent biography.
Highly recommended
John Fowles
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Anthony Howard's lucid style has captured, in a few hundred pages, a vivid picture of a great Englishman and a prelate who significantly influenced religious attitudes in Britain for more than two decades.
Howard's explanation of lesser-known ecclesiastical terminology was helpful as was having footnotes where footnotes should be - at the foot of the page!
An excellent biography.
Highly recommended
John Fowles
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
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