Most Christians know John Newton as a man who once captained a slave ship, was dramatically converted to Christ on the high seas, and penned the great hymn "Amazing Grace." But he also had a huge impact on his times as an icon of the evangelical movement, as a great preacher and theologian, and as a seminal influence on abolitionist William Wilberforce—a relationship portrayed in the major motion picture Amazing Grace. Jonathan Aitken's new biography explores all these facets of Newton's life and character. It is the first biography to draw on Newton's unpublished diaries and correspondence, providing fresh insight into the life of this complex and memorable Christian.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
6 of 6 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Alan Albro (Oak Park, iL), June 24, 2008
This book made John Newton a real person to me. Well written it definitely held my attention
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Nancy Snoke (West Chester, PA), June 02, 2008
Great book demonstrating a life moving from total despair to fellowship and fruit for God through His grace. Newton's post conversion life of intense prayer, Scripture reading and service is one for Christians of all times to emulate.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Gary (Fayetteville, GA), May 31, 2008
I had read Out Of The Depths, John Newton's autobiography, but Jonathan Aitken's book gave me a much broader and expansive understanding of Newton's influence and what he meant to the whole realm of British Christianity and ultimately to the world's Christianity. I highly recommend it. A great book!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Bill Morgan (Riverton, Utah), November 20, 2007
This is an extremely well-written,readable biography of John Newton.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Charles Gibbs (Plano, TX), October 06, 2007
This is an amazing book about an amazing man of God. I had no idea how great a witness he was to millions of people through out his life & even today. He was such a humble man, but so energetic for God. He mentored many preachers & ministers during his life & changed the world forever.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Brian (San Diego, CA), June 21, 2007
I have been involved with church music ministries for the last 15 years, and I don’t think that six weeks have past without either performing, or being asked to perform the most popular hymn ever written: Amazing Grace. This song has been featured in almost every hymn collection published since its inception, and as of today, itunes has 150 different versions available for download. With such popularity you would think the hymn’s enigmatic writer, John Newton, would be more celebrated today.
I hope that will change with a new biography written by Jonathan Aitken entitled, “John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace.” Like most people, I knew Newton was a seafaring slave trader in his younger years and that he had a remarkable conversion experience at sea during a terrible storm, but I didn’t realize that his life was the kind of epic adventure you would normally associate with a Cecil B. Demille movie.
Aitken’s biography is one of the most compelling historical books I’ve had the pleasure to read. It is thorough, well researched without being dry, and written by a man who knows something about “being lost but found,” since Jonathan Aitken became a believer while serving time in prison for perjury in an infamous London trial. Throughout the pages of Newton’s life you are confronted with a man that knew the depth of his sin, but by God’s grace, lived to preach, write and sing about God’s forgiving grace found in Jesus Christ.
Write a review of John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace
Catalog Shopping
Membership
