Amazing grace

Amazing grace

By Steve Turner

Book Description

Music writer Steve Turner takes readers on a fascinating exploration of one of the world's most beloved hymns, tracing the remarkable journey of "Amazing Grace" from its origins in 18th-century England to its enduring presence in contemporary culture. This compelling narrative follows the extraordinary life of John Newton, the hymn's author, whose transformation from rebellious sailor to slave trader to eventual minister and abolitionist embodies the very grace his famous words celebrate.

Turner's investigation begins in Olney, England, where Newton penned the hymn as a Church of England parish priest, and extends to the remote African coast where Newton once found himself enslaved. The author reveals how Newton's harrowing experiences, including his captivity on Plantain Island and survival of a devastating Atlantic storm, shaped his spiritual awakening and inspired his collaboration with poet William Cowper in creating this revolutionary Protestant hymn.

The book chronicles how "Amazing Grace" crossed the Atlantic to take root in American soil, spreading through the South and evolving through centuries of gospel tradition. Turner examines the hymn's explosive rise to popular prominence following Judy Collins's influential 1970 recording and explores its remarkable versatility through interviews with contemporary artists who have been drawn to record their own versions.

Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Turner demonstrates how this simple hymn continues to resonate across cultures, genres, and generations, offering readers insight into both musical history and the enduring power of spiritual transformation.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)

📄 Length: 266 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Church of England
  • ✓ Explore Biography
  • ✓ Explore History
  • ✓ Explore Slave trade
  • ✓ Explore Sources
  • ✓ Explore Church of england, clergy, biography
  • ✓ Open to divine grace
  • ✓ Explore Newton, john, 1725-1807

Topics Covered

Church of England Biography History Slave trade Sources Church of england, clergy, biography Amazing grace (Hymn) Newton, john, 1725-1807 Clergy Hymns New York Times reviewed

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