Description
Book SynopsisThis biography of an America religious figure draws on newly available sources to reveal how he was shaped by the cultural and religious battles of his time.
Trade Review"Magnificent. . . . This is a book that tells us as much about the intellectual foundations of America as it does about Jonathan Edwards."—Damian Thompson,
Daily Telegraph"It may not stretch the evidence to call Jonathan Edwards the most important religious figure in American history. . . . [Edwards’] arguments [are] analyzed with great skill and sensitivity in
Jonathan Edwards: A Life.
. . . Marsden, himself an evangelical believer, puts Edwards back where he belongs, firmly in the theological world of the Reformation. . . . Marsden makes a convincing case for his greatness."—Garry Wills,
New York Times Book Review"Magisterial."—
Wall Street Journal"In his superb and engrossing new biography of Jonathan Edwards, George Marsden has given us the most comprehensive account we have of the man who, as much as Benjamin Franklin—in some ways more than Franklin—is the spiritual godfather of our nation. . . . What sets Marsden’s work apart, what makes it so accessible, is that he has committed the entire enterprise to narrative, to telling a story—the saga of Jonathan Edwards."—Robert D. Richardson,
Washington Post Book World"In what will stand as the definitive biography, George Marsden sets out to bridge the gap between Edwards as seen by students of American culture and Edwards as seen by theologians. He succeeds brilliantly in this objective and in the process not only brings Edwards to life as a Christian and as a human being but also provides an enthralling portrait of the age in which he lived. . . . George Marsden already has a reputation as one of America’s leading historians. This work shows him to be a sympathetic biographer and a skilled interpreter of Christian thought."—Paul Richardson,
Church of England Newspaper"Well-researched. . . . Discriminating in its assessments and appreciative of Edwards’ life and theology. . . . Highly recommend[ed]. . . . It contains the best use of source material by an experienced historian and scholar."—Robert Davis Smart,
Reformation and Revival Journal"Marsden’s thorough, dispassionate and enlightening book is the first to weave into a smooth, continuous narrative the events of Edward’s life and the development and content of his philosophy. . . . Outstanding."—Paul Johnson,
Sunday Telegraph"A triumph of scholarship, but also of readability. Marsden successfully straddles the diverse fields in which Edwards was formed and to which he contributed, to give a richly satisfying and interesting portrait of the man and his time, including insights from American studies, theology, philosophy and even the history of natural science."—Robert E. Brown,
Times Literary Supplement"Marsden’s biography is the best book ever written about America’s (and perhaps the world’s) greatest theologian."—Samuel T. Logan, Jr.,
Westminster Theological Journal"George Marsden's 2003 biography is unrivalled for the way in which Edward's life and ministry is placed in historical context. . . . Marsden powerfully depicts the development of Edward's own spiritual experience."—
BarnabasWinner of the Philip Schaff Prize sponsored by the American Society of Church History
A finalist for the 2003 National Book Critics Circle Award in the biography category
Winner of the 2001-2003 Annibel Jenkins Biography Prize sponsored by the Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
Winner of the 2004 Bancroft Prize in American History
"At last! A highly readable biography of Jonathan Edwards that takes account of the mountain of recent Edwards scholarship and is willing to acknowledge the agonies and ambiguities as well as the triumphs of Edwards life. A great companion to the
Jonathan Edwards Reader and
TheJonathan Edwards Sermons."—Amy Plantinga Pauw, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary
"Marsden has brought together in a magisterial synthesis the details of the man’s daily life and the range of ideas that challenged the assumptions of his time and ours."—Edmund S. Morgan
"In this biography, Marsden has produced a masterpiece. It is eloquent, reliable, and comprehensive. I found it insightful and inspiring throughout."—George S. Claghorn, West Chester University, editor of
Letters and Personal Writings of Jonathan Edwards "This is the finest biography of Edwards that I have read. It will be the standard benchmark for Edwards scholarship for generations to come."—Harry S. Stout, Yale University
"There is no question that Marsden’s biography is the best book ever written about America’s (and perhaps the world’s) greatest theologian."—Sam T. Logan, Jr., Westminster Theological Seminary
