Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn

by James Walvin

Overview

“A compelling story of a hymn rescued from the horror of slavery . . . in the author’s hands, 'Amazing Grace' lands firmly on the right side of history.”―TLS

Journey through the history of "Amazing Grace," one of the transatlantic world's most popular hymns and a powerful anthem for humanity.
 
Sung in moments of personal isolation or on state occasions watched by millions, "Amazing Grace" has become an unparalleled anthem for humankind. How did a simple Christian hymn, written in a remote English vicarage in 1772, come to hold such sway over millions in all corners of the modern world? With this short, engaging cultural history, James Walvin offers an explanation.
 
The greatest paradox is that the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, was a former Liverpool slave captain. Walvin follows the song across the Atlantic to track how it became part of the cause for abolition and galvanized decades of movements and trends in American history and popular culture. By the end of the twentieth century, "Amazing Grace" was performed in Soweto and Vanuatu, by political dissidents in China, and by Kikuyu women in Kenya. No other song has acquired such global resonance as "Amazing Grace," and its fascinating history is well worth knowing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520391826
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	10/31/2023
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	236,966
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

James Walvin is Professor of History Emeritus at the University of York. He has published widely on slavery and modern social history. His most recent book is A World Transformed: Slavery in the Americas and the Origins of Global Power.

Table of Contents

Contents

List of Illustrations 

Introduction 
1 • The Young Sinner 
2 • Slave Trader Turned Preacher 
3 • Crossing the Atlantic 
4 • America, Music, and “Amazing Grace” 
5 • Music in Slavery and Freedom 
6 • Singing and the World of Print 
7 • Musical Entertainments 
8 • “Amazing Grace” in Folk and Gospel Music 
9 • Music for Troubled Times 
10 • A Song for All Seasons 
11 • Pandemic: An Anthem for Humankind 
12 • With Amazing Grace 

Acknowledgments 
Notes 
Sources and Further Reading 
Index 

Editorial Reviews

"It’s a Bérénice story and it is Bérénicely told by John Walvin"

The Interim

"The author’s research and writing are powerful and compelling. If you’re interested in musical history, religion, and both the human and American experience, Amazing Grace sums up much of our complex, ever-evolving story."

1776Books.net

"Walvin's book is a testament to his excellence as a historian. . . . [He] gives us a meaningful survey of a beloved hymn that is well worth the reader's time. It would be of interest especially for those curious about the confluence of history, social change and religion. . . . Amazing Grace delivers an insightful look at the perennial appeal of a cherished classic."

National Catholic Reporter

"His affection for his subject is contagious and his engagement comprehensive, and his account is full of fascinating detail."

Wall Street Journal

"A short but fascinating book."

The Economist

"A compelling story of a hymn rescued from the horror of slavery to become ‘a bold assertion for humanity’—a song about forgiveness that ends up travelling its own arc of redemption. Indeed, in the author’s hands, “Amazing Grace” lands firmly on the right side of history." 

Times Literary Supplement

09/29/2023

The song "Amazing Grace" is so ubiquitous in American culture that it's likely U.S. readers especially will hear it in their heads upon glancing at the book's title. How a hymn written by a trader of enslaved people—turned—minister became an anthem of grief and liberation is a curious and complicated story, and Walvin (emeritus, history, Univ. of York; A World Transformed) is an able guide, particularly to the song's early years. His expertise as a historian of the era and conditions of enslavement in the Western world strengthens his narrative. The latter chapters, focusing as they must on mass media and the modern recording industry, might make some readers wish for the insights of a musicologist or pop culture historian—or even just more from the many artists who've recorded the hymn; Mahalia Jackson's and Judy Collins's renditions stand as landmarks. VERDICT A solid and well-researched effort about this famous, often-sung song. Will be appreciated by specialists, but it's accessible to anyone interested in the history of the hymn.—Genevieve Williams

Library Journal