The English Soul

 The English Soul

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       November 7, 2024

 

Author  Peter Ackroyd

Distributor:      New South Books
ISBN:                 9781789148459
Publisher:         Reaktion Books
Release Date:   June 2024  

Website:    https://newsouthbooks.com.au/books/the-english-soul/ 

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Faith of a Nation

This scholarly and deeply researched book, The English Soul, will be of great value to those interested in English History, The Christian Religion, and well known Historical figures. The author seeks to show how Christianity has shaped the English, for better or worse. This is an entertaining travel through 1400 years to seek out the Englishman who exists beyond the institutional religions.

The first chapter deals with the Venerable Bede, whom many of us know as a writer of manuscripts and documents which have been preserved, especially the Ecclesiastical History of the English People. This chapter deals with Religion as a History and Bede’s time is given as (673-735). The chapter also mentions other monks, such as Gildas who discussed the sins of the British which brought about the confrontation by the Saxons.

The following chapters deal with topics such as, Religion as Reform, Religion as Orthodoxy, Religion as Opposition, discussing Thomas Cartwright. In the chapter, Religion as Sermon, we discover John Donne.

At age eleven he was admitted to university but would not graduate as he had to take an oath to Elizabeth, and “For the young Catholic that would be impossible.” We are taken on a journey of his earlier life, which wasn’t without disasters. He eventually entered the Church and “Learned to speak easily and learned how to adopt the right posture and manner.” He spoke simply and clearly and soon became popular with the congregations.

So many names that we are familiar with are mentioned in the chapters, such as John Bunyan, John Wesley, Catherine and William Booth, and Richard Dawkins. This is a serious, educational and fascinating look at Religious History, and the characters who added to the moulding of the history.

History, Non Fiction