Arts & Humanities Reviews, March 1, 2011
Mar 1, 2011
ARTS
Daniel, Malcolm. Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand: Masterworks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, dist. by Yale Univ. 2010. 180p. photogs. ISBN 9780300169010. $35. PHOTOG
It was Alfred Stieglitz’s (1864–1946) persistent ministrations that finally convinced New York’s Metropolitan Museum (Met) to display photographs. Today, the Met has an excellent photography collection anchored by the work of Stieglitz and his friends Edward Steichen and Paul Strand. This fine book highlights the famous, haunting views of the Flatiron Building by Steichen and Stieglitz; the latter’s portrait studies of Georgia O’Keeffe; and the former’s depictions of Auguste Rodin and his works. Daniel (curator in charge, dept. of photographs, Met) introduces this largely pictorial book with an intelligent recounting of the intertwined history of these three artists. Their progression in terms of aesthetic purity and accessibility to 21st-century eyes goes from Stieglitz to Steichen to Strand. The selection here of Strand’s work is powerfully representative of his compositional acumen and includes a nearly flawless range of still lifes, portraits, and landscapes. The book closes with Strand’s depiction of Stieglitz, a few years before Stieglitz’s death, somberly locking eyes with the viewer. VERDICT A beautifully presented collection of superior works by the big three, this will be of great interest to photographers and aesthetes across the board.—Douglas F. Smith, Berkeley P.L., CA
Gallery, Wyatt. Tent Life: Haiti. Umbrage Edns., dist. by Consortium. Apr. 2011. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9781884167478. $39.95. PHOTOG
Award-winning American photographer Gallery traveled to Haiti three months after the January 2010 earthquake to document the widespread devastation. After his initial round of photos, he departed but returned in September, finding little improvement in six months. Here, he collects 74 of his color photos and includes captions to chronicle the daily existence of countless Haitians living in squalor in makeshift cities. Some consist of tents while others are no more than tarps thrown over anything to provide shelter. Water and food are shipped in, there’s little—if any—sanitation, and thievery and rape are common. Yet beyond the garbage and the rubble, what shines through in these photos is the spirit of hope of a people who’ve suffered unimaginable hardship and loss but haven’t been defeated. With an essay by Haitian American novelist Edwidge Danticat, a historical time line, and a reading list about Haiti. VERDICT Gallery offers a timely reminder that thousands of Haitians are still suffering and needy a year after the headlines and international sympathy have disappeared. All royalties from this volume will go to charities aiding Haiti. Photojournalism fans and those with a social conscience will benefit from this book.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Raskin, David. Donald Judd. Yale Univ. 2010. 220p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300162769. $55. FINE ARTS
In this first monograph based on documents found in nearly 20 archives as well as considerable research in art, criticism, aesthetics, politics, and ethics, Raskin (chair; art history, theory, & criticism; Sch. of the Art Inst. of Chicago) provides an authoritative, comprehensive guide to the works and practices of American minimalist painter, sculptor, and critic Donald Judd (1928–94). Raskin argues that previous analyses fall short because they interpret Judd’s works and practices in reductive and theoretical terms that fail to acknowledge the importance of reality. The author grounds his study in materialism and empiricism, drawing attention to the vitality, openness, and indeterminateness of Judd’s output. Raskin develops an expanded notion of scale, proposing that Judd’s art produces local order without a framework surrounding creative experience. VERDICT Referencing Judd’s writings, interviews, and works as well as those of many art critics, philosophers, scholars, and artists, this generously illustrated book (60 color and 80 monochrome reproductions) featuring creations by Judd and many contemporary artists is well documented, nicely presented, and intellectually stimulating, if not challenging. Of interest to students, scholars, museum professionals, and others.—Cheryl Ann Lajos, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
LITERATURE
Loseff, Lev. Joseph Brodsky: A Literary Life. Yale Univ. 2011. 352p. tr. from Russian by Jane Ann Miller. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300141191. $35. LIT
Loseff (1937–2009) was a professor of Russian language and literature at Dartmouth and a longtime friend of 1987 Nobel Prize–winning poet Joseph Brodsky (1940–96), both of them Leningrad (today’s St. Petersburg) natives who left the then Soviet Union for the United States, although under different circumstances. Loseff describes Brodsky’s life in the USSR, Brodsky’s parents, his early departure from formal education, the variety of work he sought, and his relationship with Marina Basmanova, with whom he had a son. Loseff explains the history and nature of Russian poetry, Brodsky’s differences from the Leningrad poets of the 1950s, and the particular influence of Anna Akhmatova (as well as John Donne, W.H. Auden, and Robert Frost). Brodsky’s denunciation as anti-Soviet, his 1964 trial, and his internal exile are carefully detailed. Loseff writes of Brodsky’s major poems and essays and his poetic ideas of eros, nature, politics, and ethics, noting that themes of guilt and forgiveness, Christian love, Neoplatonism, and existentialism are major forces in Brodsky’s work. Loseff also covers Brodsky’s life in the United States and the evolution of his politics and writing up to his early death. VERDICT Recommended for all readers and scholars of postwar Russian studies, Russian literature, or simply Brodsky’s life.—Gene Shaw, Paramus P.L., NJ
Schama, Simon. Scribble, Scribble, Scribble: Writing on Politics, Ice Cream, Churchill, and My Mother. Ecco: HarperCollins. Apr. 2011. c.432p. photogs. ISBN 9780062009869. $27.99. LIT
One expects ups and downs in a collection of occasional pieces such as this, with topics as diverse as current politics, a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth 2, art, cooking, and even one on why an English historian belatedly fell in love with the Boston Red Sox. But Schama (University Professor of Art History & History, Columbia Univ.; The American Future: A History) is such a brilliant writer knowledgeable in so many fields that the downs in this collection are still worth reading and the ups are really up. There is a killer appreciation of philosopher Isaiah Berlin and ferocious essays, that now seem dated, alas, on the manifold failings of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The best offerings are appreciations of the Dutch masters, one on those now somewhat ignored 19th-century prophets John Ruskin and Thomas Carlyle, and a perceptive and amusing essay about the quirky modernist James Ensor, whose work is “one long carnival guffaw at the higher seriousness of modernism.” VERDICT Though not all of these pieces are of equal merit, collections of essays don’t come any better than this. All readers who like lively writing and good thinking, especially relating to art criticism and history, will enjoy this book. [See Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
PERFORMING ARTS
Bergan, Ronald. Film Isms...: Understanding Cinema. Universe: Rizzoli. Mar. 2011. 160p. photogs. ISBN 9780789322142. pap. $16.95. FILM
Universe Publishing’s “Isms” series includes small-format books on understanding art, fashion, religion, and, now, cinema. In this attractive volume, Bergan, who writes on film for the UK’s Guardian and Independent, gives brief descriptions of various categories of cinema, with an accompanying list of the films and filmmakers that fit each ism. Most films defy pigeonholing, and the application of too many catchy labels can diminish the merit of the films in question, especially as many could fall under multiple categories. In the introduction, Bergan writes that none of the isms should be considered “hard and fast categories,” but this begs the question of why he’s employing this forced pattern. Many categories are clearly invented to fit the theme of the book—e.g., “Musicalism” and “Teenagism”—which undermines its credibility. VERDICT Books like The Rough Guide to Film are much better primers, though not as handy or inexpensive. A valiant but flawed effort, possibly useful for a true novice, but not a necessary purchase.—Peter Thornell, Hingham P.L., MA
Brewster, Bill & Frank Broughton. The Record Players: DJ Revolutionaries. Black Cat: Grove. Apr. 2011. c.480p. photogs. ISBN 9780802170897. pap. $16.95. MUSIC
In the 21st century analog and digital music technologies and cultures continue to converge and diverge. Somewhere between technological manipulation and musical archaeology is the art of the DJ. In this series of interviews, Brewster and Broughton (coauthors, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jokey) illuminate the diversity of artists that propelled the DJ from sound engineer to featured performer. Each entry includes photos and a selected discography of the performer’s work. Familiar DJ pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash and Paul Oakenfold are included with lesser-known originators like Terry Noel and Kev Roberts. In addition to the details of their lives, the performers also consider music consumption by the general public. Whereas early DJs introduced the public to new sounds through vinyl, modern DJs are increasingly manipulating music files to a more digitally sophisticated audience. Both, however, serve as musical archivists reintroducing forgotten records to current and future generations. VERDICT Mixed with colorful characters and stories, these interviews will appeal to aspiring DJs everywhere.—Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH
Dawson, Julian. And on Piano...Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock’s Greatest Session Man. Backstage: Plus One. Apr. 2011. c.370p. illus. discog. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780984436224. pap. $20.95. MUSIC
London-born Nicky Hopkins (d. 1994) played keyboards on songs by the Who, the Kinks, and the Rolling Stones; was a member of the Jeff Beck Group; performed at Woodstock with Jefferson Airplane; contributed to solo works by John Lennon, George Harrison, and Jerry Garcia; and made several solo albums of his own. In this first biographical examination, Dawson, a singer-songwriter who collaborated with and befriended Hopkins, chronicles Hopkins’s story from the burgeoning and vigorous London rock scene of the swinging Sixties to superstar sessions in the Seventies. Dawson uses his interviews with many of Hopkins’s associates and family members as well as published source material to document his childhood, battles with chronic illness, and the drug use and subsequent sobriety and contentment at the end of Hopkins’s life. VERDICT While many may not be familiar with Nicky Hopkins’s name today, almost every rock fan has heard this quintessential studio session player’s distinctive piano. This book, with its detailed and extensive discography and appearances list, will interest dedicated fans with intense curiosity about the creation of some of rock’s seminal records.—Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. P.L., NJ
Epstein, Daniel Mark. The Ballad of Bob Dylan: A Portrait. Harper: HarperCollins. May 2011. c.496p. illus. index. ISBN 9780061807329. $27.99. MUSIC
Poet and historian Epstein (The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage) mixes personal observation, interviews with insiders, and rehashed highlights from well-known biographies in this well-written but frustratingly incomplete portrait of Bob Dylan. The author, a longtime fan who does not hold back his strong opinions on Dylan’s career and private life, frames his book around personal concert experiences in 1963, 1974, 1997, and 2009, leaving large gaps in Dylan’s life story. Epstein skims through Dylan’s mid-1970s renaissance and almost completely ignores his gospel period, instead focusing on his early Woody Guthrie fixation, late 1960s/early 1970s home life, and recent touring. Epstein draws heavily from Dylan’s autobiography (Chronicles) and previous biographies by Robert Shelton, Anthony Scaduto, and others. There seems to be no original research here other than new interviews with friends, bandmates, and Don’t Look Back filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, who provide fresh and surprising glimpses into Dylan’s personal life. VERDICT This minor work is only mildly recommended to well-informed readers interested in what the interviewees have to say about the musician’s character and private side.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Grant, Jennifer. Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant. Knopf. May 2011. c.192p. photogs. ISBN 9780307267108. $24. FILM
Cary Grant’s only child, Jennifer, was born when he was 63. His marriage to Dyan Cannon didn’t last, but Jennifer’s childhood was full of special times with her father, who, retired from film and leading a private life, was devoted to her. Almost 25 years after his death, Jennifer Grant, a Stanford graduate who switched from law to acting, writes of their relationship. Some fans of the debonair actor may be disappointed that she focuses squarely on the man she knew, even declaring that she hasn’t read any published material about him: “I’ll stick with my trusty experience as a guide.” Her father never spoke of his early life, from which he had few mementos, but he carefully saved Jennifer’s every creation. His tape recordings of many of their happy moments were bequeathed to her along with files of instructive clippings and notes about leading a responsible life. VERDICT This memoir, touching and authentic, of a kind man in his final happy decades (his daughter also writes lovingly of his last marriage) will offer balance to Cary Grant collections. Although his film career is not covered, his fans will be the primary readers. Dyan Cannon’s own memoir, Dear Cary, is due out in September. [See Prepub Alert, 11/1/10.]—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal
Hoberman, J. An Army of Phantoms: American Movies and the Making of the Cold War. New Pr., dist. by Perseus. Apr. 2011. c.400p. index. ISBN 9781595580054. $27.95. FILM
Hoberman (senior film critic, Village Voice; The Magic Hour: Film at Fin De Siècle) here delivers the second installment (after The Dream Life: Movies, Media, and the Mythology of the Sixties) of a three-volume study of American film as viewed through the lens of politics. Hoberman’s exhaustive research taps into the mainstream, entertainment, and alternative press coverage; House Un-American Activities Committee testimony; FBI files; and archival sources. He discusses the period from 1946 to 1956 in a minutely detailed and richly textured chronology that interweaves cinematic, political, military, and social history. The activities of motion picture producers, actors, and screenwriters swept up in the investigations of communist activity in the entertainment industry are paralleled with those of political and military personnel and set against the backdrop of the movies themselves—the plots, premieres, and reviews. VERDICT Serious readers will appreciate the attention to detail and thorough treatment of the subject. Recommended for film historians and Cold War scholars.—Donna L. Davey, New York Univ. Libs.
Israeli Cinema: Identities in Motion. Univ. of Texas. (Jewish History, Life, & Culture). Jul. 2011. c.380p. ed. by Miri Talmon & Yaron Peleg. photogs. index. ISBN 9780292725607. $55. FILM
Since the first full-length Hebrew-language film was made in 1933, Israel’s film industry has flourished in fits and starts. For decades Israel mostly produced motion pictures that reflected its evolving society: kibbutz life, the several wars, relations with the Palestinians, and mass immigration. Exploration of other issues, like the place of gays in the society, came later, as did escapist fare. Talmon, who has taught Israeli cinema and culture in universities in Israel and the United States, and Peleg (Hebrew, George Washington Univ.; Israeli Culture Between the Two Intifadas) have compiled a large number of essays, grouped by theme, that explore Israeli cinema from its earliest days. VERDICT Although by no means a comprehensive look at all films, this is a useful addition to Ella Shohat’s pioneering Israeli Cinema, which analyzes only a small number of films, and Amy Kronish’s more recent coauthored Israeli Film: A Reference Guide and her volume on Israel in the World Cinema set. This new guide is highly recommended for those with a serious interest in Israeli films and for cinema students.—Roy Liebman, formerly with California State Univ., Los Angeles
PHILOSOPHY
Coffee: Philosophy for Everyone; Grounds for Debate. Wiley-Blackwell. (Philosophy for Everyone). Mar. 2011. c.264p. ed. by Scott F. Parker & Michael W. Austin. index. ISBN 9781444337129. pap. $19.95. PHIL
In this addition to an accessible and substantive series, 18 new essays, with coffee and coffee culture as their shared theme, relay the relationship between the coffee-related contemporary and everyday and the ideas and ideals on which the history of formal philosophy has been built. The essays by philosophy professors, graduate students, and well-informed coffee and philosophy aficionados discuss the aesthetic, moral, ethical, and phenomenological aspects of drinking, preparing, growing, and sharing coffee, as well as the history and politics that the bean and the beverage have enjoyed and suffered. Coffeehouse culture, the nature of thinking and writing, and the physiological responses of humans to coffee are also explored, always with references to Western thought from the ancients through modern abstainers, such as Kant, and 20th-century indulgers, led by Sartre. VERDICT Recommended for coffee and philosophy aficionados. This entry in the series may well also be of interest for book discussion groups.— Francisca Goldsmith, Infopeople Project, Berkeley, CA
Gardening: Philosophy for Everyone; Cultivating Wisdom. Wiley-Blackwell. (Philosophy for Everyone). 2011. c.264p. ed. by Dan O’Brien. index. ISBN 9781444330212.pap. $19.95. PHIL
The “Philosophy for Everyone” series is made up of new philosophical takes on subjects not usually addressed from the philosophical perspective. Gardening is not absent from philosophy; after all, Voltaire’s Candide ends with the admonition to “cultivate our garden.” This book examines how gardening is like philosophy and vice versa. As might be expected, aesthetics is a major focus of the essays, with forays to Central Park and the garden at Dumbarton Oaks. Much space is also given to political philosophy and some fascinating explorations into the political and philosophical ramifications of historical gardening in London and Aztec Mexico. Virtue ethics are another important aspect of the philosophy of gardening: the consensus among philosophers is that one way or another, cultivating a garden also cultivates the body and soul to the betterment of both. The authors of the essays gathered here by O’Brien (research fellow, Oxford Brookes Univ.) are scholars of philosophy, art history, and landscape design, and many of them are gardeners. VERDICT The series is likely to appeal to armchair philosophers and undergraduates alike, and this volume will give gardeners of an intellectual bent a philosophical justification for their hobby.—Margaret Heller, Dominican Univ. Lib., River Forest, IL
POETRY
Murray, Les. Killing the Black Dog: A Memoir of Depression. Farrar. Mar. 2011. c.96p. ISBN 9780374181062. pap. $13.
Murray, Les. Taller When Prone: Poems. Farrar. Mar. 2011. c.96p. ISBN 9780374272371. $24. POETRY
Fans of venerable Australian poet Murray (The Biplane Houses) will find few surprises or disappointments in these two new volumes, one centered on Murray’s long struggle with depression, the other largely devoted to lyrical snapshots of life Down Under. The former features a 30-page prose memoir—a candid if at times almost breezy account of his illness and its psychosocial roots (childhood guilt, social awkwardness, sexual trepidation)—followed by a selection of poems that portray the symptoms of “the victim sickness” with frightening clarity: “...the gut was a train/ crawling in its own tunnel,/ slowly dragging the nightmare/ down with it.” Generally conservative in mindset and manner (“Modernism’s not modern; it’s police and despair”), Murray brings his signature formal discipline and brittle wit to bear on a wider range of subjects in Taller When Prone and is most musically disarming when describing everyday things, as in “Ovoids”: “heads of women lovingly/ watch babies grabbing/ like unsteady moons/ in a wading pool full/ of cherry balloons.” VERDICT Though Murray’s imagistic energies sometimes run amok (“the galaxy, streamed like sugarbag/ in a char branch/ fronted by chinning bees”) and his willfully arcane locutions (“blady-grass baulks/ mown in drought along the pond”) may puzzle U.S. readers, his effort to strike an original tone within the familiar limits of English poetic traditions is laudable and, for the most part, successful.—Fred Muratori, Cornell Univ. Lib., Ithaca, NY
She Walks in Beauty: A Woman’s Journey Through Poems. Voice: Hyperion. Apr. 2011. c.352p. ed. by Caroline Kennedy. ISBN 9781401341459. $24.95. POETRY
For Kennedy, poetry has the great gift of “shap[ing] an endless conversation about the most important things in life.” She learned that when she turned 50 and three friends sent her poems that afforded her both comfort and guidance. Thereafter she began creating this anthology of nearly 200 poems addressing the various stages of a woman’s life, among them “Falling in Love,” “Motherhood,” “Death and Grief,” and, yes, “Beauty, Clothes, and Things of This World.” Many of the poems here are expected, e.g., Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee,” but others are delightful discoveries or reminders. Consider Kim Addonizio’s “What Do Women Want?”: “I want a red dress/ I want it flimsy and cheap/ I want it too tight/ I want to wear it/ until someone tears it off me.” Or Paneshia Jones’s “Bra Shopping”: “At sixteen I am a jeans and t-shirt wearing tomboy who can think/ a few million more places to be….” Or Anna Swir’s “The Greatest Love”: “Her dear one says: ‘You have hair like pearls.’/ Her children say:/ ‘Old fool.’ ” The poets range from Sappho to Shakespeare to Plath, and Kennedy has the nerve to open with Gertrude Stein. VERDICT All in all, a warm and comfortable anthology for anyone (men, too) seeking solace in verse. [See the Q&A with Kennedy on p. 74.—Ed.]—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal
RELIGION
Carroll, James. Jerusalem, Jerusalem: How the Ancient City Ignited Our Modern World. Houghton Harcourt. Mar. 2011. c.448p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780547195612. $28. REL
Convinced that “all recognizably contemporary conflicts have their foundations in the deep past,” Carroll (columnist, Boston Globe; Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews) gives an account of the “actual city of Jerusalem” from prehistoric times to the present, revealing the “lethal feedback loop” between the actual city and “the apocalyptic fantasy it inspires” throughout history and changing oppositions. The idea of a heavenly Jerusalem inspired anti-Judaism, anti-Semitism, and colonialism’s general contempt for native peoples. Muslim occupation of Jerusalem as “The Holy” led to the Christian Crusades and more violence. Interspersed with this history is a revealing anthropological treatment of the relationship among violence, religion, and the concept of sacrifice, together with an account of Carroll’s own life-changing visit to Jerusalem. His conclusion about good religion vs. “bad” and the necessity of the former to prevent an Armageddon-type nuclear holocaust is enlightening and controversial. VERDICT Carroll is fair-minded in his critique, which politicians, people with religious or political interests, clergy, and proponents of world peace need to read, regardless of their conclusions. Highly recommended.—Carolyn M. Craft, formerly with Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA
Fea, John. Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction. Westminster/John Knox. 2011. c.304p. illus. index. ISBN 9780664235048. pap. $30. REL
In this primer on America’s historical relationship to Christianity, Fea (history, Messiah Coll.; The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in Early America) shows that the facts are much more complex than the oversimplified sound bites that litter the present political debate. He covers the history of the idea of the United States as a Christian nation, whether the American Revolution was a Christian event, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the religious beliefs of seven key founders. As the book goes on, it becomes clear that Fea has no intention of definitively answering the question posed in the title, which may frustrate readers already committed to one side or the other. Instead, the author lays out the relevant information with all of its ambiguity and invites readers to draw their own conclusions. VERDICT Although this book is primarily intended for a Christian audience, it is a useful text for anyone seeking a balanced historical overview of a thorny question.—Brian T. Sullivan, Alfred Univ. Lib., NY
Marty, Martin E. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison : A Biography. Princeton Univ. (Lives of Great Religious Books). 2011. c.288p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780691139210. $24.95. REL
Is it possible to write a biography of a book? Princeton’s new series asserts that classic books—in their creation and reception—take on a kind of life of their own. Marty (religious history, emeritus, Univ. of Chicago; Martin Luther: A Life), a highly regarded church historian and National Book Award winner, certainly shows how Bonhoeffer’s work has been vital for over half a century, explicating how the prison letters and other writings came to make such a significant impact on the religious world. Bonhoeffer, a major German theologian and member of the resistance against Hitler, had no knowledge that his prison writings would be published and disseminated so widely. Yet his courageous convictions and creative theological ideas became highly influential for Christians, including Protestants (mainline), Catholics, Evangelicals, and Orthodox. VERDICT Religious scholars as well as general readers interested in theology or the history of Christianity will find this a great choice.—John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ., TX
Shalev, Meir. Beginnings: Reflections on the Bible's Intriguing Firsts. Harmony: Crown. Mar. 2011. c.304p. tr. from Hebrew by Stuart Schoffman. index. ISBN 9780307717184. $25. REL
Celebrated Israeli novelist Shalev is not yet a household name in America, but his latest book may help change that. Here, he takes a fresh look at some of the most familiar stories in the Bible to uncover a series of firsts. When did the Hebrew word for love, laugh, hate, or dream first appear in the ancient text? Using a form of literary criticism, Shalev applies his knowledge of Hebrew to a close rereading of these ancient stories, which yields some surprising results. A master storyteller, Shalev unveils the power of these “first” words as symbols and analyzes their roles in the context of the story, revealing some unexpected twists and turns along the way. VERDICT This quick and enjoyable read is intended for a Jewish audience already familiar with the Bible, but anyone interested in biblical stories as literature will find Shalev’s book both entertaining and enlightening. Recommended for a general audience, religious and nonreligious alike.—Brian Greene, Northeastern Univ. Lib., Boston
RELIGIOUS FRIENDS
Durham, Geoffrey. The Spirit of the Quakers. Yale Univ. 2010. 256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300167368. pap. $15. REL
Durham, a British broadcaster and magician who converted to Quakerism in 1999, has crafted this valuable book—both anthology and explication—especially for those unfamiliar with the Society of Friends. He opens with a brief, introductory overview followed by 12 chapters on topics such as Quaker meeting for worship, Advices and Queries, faith in action, peacemaking, the four testimonies (equality, peace, simplicity, and truth), and community. Durham coherently weaves together excerpts from the writings of renowned Friends of the founding period (1650–1700), his own commentary, and contributions of contemporary Quakers through 2009 to illuminate each topic and demonstrate the great variety of Quaker thinking. Additionally, there are chapters with extended excerpts from the religious journals of George Fox, Mary Penington, John Woolman, and Pierre Ceresole. VERDICT Highly recommended for general readers seeking a basic grounding in Quakerism. Companion reading should include the Journal of George Fox, the Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman, and Geoffrey Hubbard’s Quaker by Convincement. —James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville Lib.
Quaker Writings: An Anthology, 1650–1920. Penguin. 2011. c.372p. ed. by Thomas D. Hamm. bibliog. ISBN 9780143106319. pap. $16. REL
In spite of its long association with American culture, Quakerism remains at least a little enigmatic to most outsiders. Hamm (history, Earlham Coll.; The Quakers in America) makes it easier to penetrate the mystery with this collection of writings from Quakerism’s English founding to the early 20th century. Within chronological sections, Hamm presents thematic groupings such as “Founders,” “Sufferings,” “Women’s Ministry Justified,” “Travels and Travails,” “Liberal Quakerism,” and “American Civil War.” Brief introductions to each part, an excellent introductory essay, and a brief bibliography help establish context and points of departure. This reviewer applauds Hamm’s inclusion of writings opposed to Quakerism in addition to the apologetics, as well as his able representation of Quaker women. VERDICT Highly recommended for those with at least an intermediate interest in Quakerism along with Emilie Griffin and Douglas V. Steere’s Quaker Spirituality and Mary Garman and others’ Hidden in Plain Sight: Quaker Women’s Writings, 1650–1700. Readers new to Quakerism should start with Geoffrey Durham’s The Spirit of the Quakers , reviewed above. Those seeking further study should visit Hamm’s curated Digital Quaker Collection at Earlham’s School of Religion (www.esr.earlham.edu/dqc/index.html). —James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville Lib.
