- Hardcover: 468 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown & Company; Reprint edition (5 Jun 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0316860204
- ISBN-13: 978-0316860208
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
95,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestant > Methodist
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A Brand from the Burning weaves together the personal, theological, political and spiritual elements in the life of John Wesley to reflect the spirit of his age and the impact he had upon it. Roy Hattersley approaches writing with the same verve and commitment that marked his political career. Always one for plain talking and a brisk sense of humour, he also has a sense of proportion both about himself and the wider world. Having authored Blood and Fire, the biography of William and Catherine Booth, the Christian social reformers who founded the Salvation Army, Hattersley turns an observant and affectionate eye on John Wesley. As a Labour politician, he is naturally interested in the impact of the Methodist movement on the social and political scene of Britain. He traces Wesley's fascinating life to show how an itinerant preacher became "one of the architects of the modern world".
John Wesley's beginning in the Anglican rectory and his enthusiasm for the Christian faith at Oxford led to his becoming a missionary to the nascent colony of Georgia. There he found God in a new way and came back to preach a revivalist message across Britain. Out of this fiery movement the Methodist Church was established and it has been claimed that because of Wesley's work Britain experienced a spiritual revival rather than a bloody revolution. Roy Hattersley writes clear, straightforward prose and tells the story of Wesley with a spark of the same zeal and charisma that Wesley himself must have had. --Dwight Longenecker
New Statesman, 14 October 2002
"Roy Hattersley has written a full and fair biography of a man whom it is possible to admire but harder to like."
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First Sentence
The Victorians, emboldened by the confidence that comes with success, convinced posterity that modern England began in the nineteenth century. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The Victorians, emboldened by the confidence that comes with success, convinced posterity that modern England began in the nineteenth century. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
“The facts and the fables are difficult to distinguish” Hattersley notes in the opening of the second chapter of his book. But he tells the story of John Wesley’s life without losing himself in conjecture. Instead we are treated to a palatable and enlightening read, making accessible the background of one of the most influential religious leaders of the eighteenth century. The fables add spice to an already remarkable life. Hattersley spares no details for those of us that would seek to idolise, or indeed idealise, this Christian figurehead. Wesley had a way with a large number of young and vulnerable women. Ostensibly he was providing them with spiritual guidance, but others (including his irate wife) saw the situations quite differently; the ‘sex scandals’ surrounding this churchman were almost enough to discredit the Methodist movement entirely.
From humble beginnings in a holy club at Oxford, John Wesley went on to spread his interpretation of the word across the country. Covering incredible distances in a short time, Wesley brought the gospel to the poorer urban classes who were perhaps most in need of spiritual salvation – a Church more tailored to their needs. His true inspiration came not from Oxford but from his mother, whose domestic prayer meetings, held when John was a boy, had elicited such large audiences that they became considered a threat to those in power. Roy Hattersley’s utterly absorbing characterisation of the strong-willed Susanna Wesley reminded me of his similar ability in “Blood and Fire”, the biography of William and Catherine Booth. Here Hattersley takes a perhaps more difficult subject, but excels beyond his previous achievement.He binds all his facts together with a direct and engrossing style, combined with careful (but unobtrusive) documentation of his sources.
Hattersley shows us a flawed man, who nevertheless commands great respect. Anyone wishing to thoroughly understand the rise of Methodism and the context within which it emerged is likely to find great pleasure in Hattersley’s account. In fact, any reader seeking an enjoyable foray into this period could do no better than to start with this excellent biography.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This was an easy biographical read. Hattersley kept a good balance betweenthe mundane facts and the spark of excitement that keeps one reading. Someprevious biographies have tended to elevate Wesley almost to sainthood andit was refreshing to see Wesley the man, warts and all come through thepages of this book. Perhaps this should be compulsory reading forMethodists?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As one who is new to the Methodist Church, I enjoyed reading the facts about John Wesley and the early Methodist Church. (right or wrong)
However, I found Hattersley's way of writing to be over complicated. He often uses words and phrases that are beyond the average 'man in the street', thus making it heavy going at times. (If you want to sell books - keep it simple to widen your readership.)
I also found that Roy Hattersley keeps going over the same point time-and time again and often comes up with a different ending. I lost track of what Wesley was really about and who his friends really were at any one time. Several times, I needed to go back and read a previous passage to clarify several items before moving on. (annoying)
Without wishing to be rude to the author, I feel that this book could have been written in a more direct and simpler manner placing each fact as it occured.
In my opinion, this is not a book for reading late at night in bed - unless one wishes to get to sleep quickly!
However, I found Hattersley's way of writing to be over complicated. He often uses words and phrases that are beyond the average 'man in the street', thus making it heavy going at times. (If you want to sell books - keep it simple to widen your readership.)
I also found that Roy Hattersley keeps going over the same point time-and time again and often comes up with a different ending. I lost track of what Wesley was really about and who his friends really were at any one time. Several times, I needed to go back and read a previous passage to clarify several items before moving on. (annoying)
Without wishing to be rude to the author, I feel that this book could have been written in a more direct and simpler manner placing each fact as it occured.
In my opinion, this is not a book for reading late at night in bed - unless one wishes to get to sleep quickly!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bought for my wife.
My wife has really enjoyed this well written book. Both for the story of one of her heroes but also the historical social commentary. A good purchase.
Published 14 months ago by Andrew White
John Wesley Had Reverence For All God's Creation !
Mr. Hattersley's comprehensive biography adeptly covered many facets of John Wesley's life and works. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2006 by Brien Comerford
Errors and Misleading Generalisations
Lord Hattersley is an able writer, but it is unfortunate that he did not correct errors and misleading generalisations for this paperback edition. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2005 by J. Price
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