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John Knox Paperback – July 5, 2016
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“Never before has there been such a thoroughly and sympathetically critical treatment of the 16th-century Scottish reformer’s thought and times. . . . A joy to read and a book to value.”—Sean Michael Lucas, Gospel Coalition
Based in large part on previously unavailable sources, including the recently discovered papers of John Knox’s close friend and colleague Christopher Goodman, this biography challenges the traditionally held stereotype of the founder of the Presbyterian denomination as a strident and misogynist religious reformer whose influence rarely extended beyond Scotland. Instead, Jane Dawson maintains that Knox relied heavily on the support of his “godly sisters” and conferred as well as argued with Mary, Queen of Scots. He was a proud member of the European community of Reformed Churches and deeply involved in the religious Reformations within England, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Casting a surprising new light on the public and private personas of a highly complex, difficult, and hugely compelling individual, Dawson’s fascinating study offers a vivid, fully rounded portrait of this renowned Scottish preacher and prophet who had a seismic impact on religion and society.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherYale University Press
- Publication dateJuly 5, 2016
- Dimensions7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
- ISBN-100300219709
- ISBN-13978-0300219708
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Editorial Reviews
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“Never before has there been such a thoroughly and sympathetically critical treatment of the 16th-century Scottish reformer’s thought and times. . . . A joy to read and a book to value.”—Sean Michael Lucas, Gospel Coalition
“[John Knox] is engaging, lucid, comprehensive, peppered with fascinating details, and an ennobling account of a major figure of the nascent Protestant movement.”—David George Moore, Patheos
“[Dawson] skillfully weaves narrative prose with historical analysis . . . A compelling, accurate, and all-encompassing account.”—Jonathan Baddley, Reading Religion
"Dawson’s Knox provides an up-to-date and complex portrayal of what may be known today about Knox and Scotland’s early Reformation era. It will not easily be surpassed."—Kenneth J. Stewart,Haddington House Journal
“Dawson has written the definitive biography of the Scottish Reformer. . . . I don't remember a comma being out of place in Dawson's John Knox. . . . Having read Dawson on Knox, you'll want to read Knox, too.”—James E. Bruce, Anglican and Episcopal History
"In the best possible way, this biography makes Knox far less of an icon, and far more of a man—it does, in fact,exactly what a scholarly biography should do."—Mark S. Sweetnam, Renaissance Quarterly
'Quite simply, this life of John Knox renders all his previous biographies obsolete. Excitingly enriched by new manuscript discoveries, it expertly fillets Knox's genius for personal myth-making, but leaves him still the most significant Scotsman of his generation. The result is surprising, fascinating and a major achievement of scholarship.' - Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years
'This is an excellent book, a fine piece both of research and of writing, and displays a finely balanced judgement. It gets as far as possible "under the skin" of its subject and yet manages to avoid uncritical or overflowing sympathy for him. This balanced and insightful biography should be definitive for many years to come.' - Euan Cameron, author of The European Reformation
'Full-blooded and bloody, compelling and engrossing, the life of John Knox presented by Jane Dawson is a masterpiece of biography. The Scotsman rages against all foes, bows in prayer to a mighty God, and transforms a nation, all brought to life by Dawson's deep knowledge and vivid prose. Marvellous.' - Bruce Gordon, author of Calvin
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- Publisher : Yale University Press; Reprint edition (July 5, 2016)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0300219709
- ISBN-13 : 978-0300219708
- Item Weight : 15.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #703,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #311 in Scotland History
- #867 in Historical British Biographies
- #3,535 in Religious Leader Biographies
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Knox was always a bit ornery. He fought against the prayer book of the Anglican Church, a conflict that would continue to haunt him on the continent especially during his tenure with the English congregation in Frankfurt. While in Geneva, he helped produce the Geneva Bible (an English Bible that was considered so anti-royalty that it encouraged King James to call for another translation), the Psalter, and a book on church discipline. Knox and Calvin had different views of the church. Calvin felt the true church needed two “marks”: the preaching of the Word and the sacraments. Knox added a third mark: discipline. Knox concern for church discipline and the “cleansing of the church,” reflects his black and white views, but also made him less willing to compromise. Knox could get overly zealous. When he first arrived on the continent, both Calvin and Bullinger encouraged him to cool down.
Knox later returned to Scotland, having been invited by royalty who were devoted to the devoted to the Protestant. He would serve as a chaplain for the Lords of the Congregation during their fight against the Catholic forces in Scotland. This was a troubling time. Scotland was involved in a civil war. There was always a chance that France would come to the aid of Catholics in Scotland. Knox, having spent time in England, had a vision of a united Protestant island (this would come about long after his death). It was also an interesting time, as religion was not the only dividing issue. There were even Protestants who support Mary, Queen of Scots. Knox had his own battles with the English reformation (especially on the Prayer Book and vestments). The author points out how Knox’s stubbornness kept the Scottish and English Reformations separate.
Another example of Knox stubbornness was his first book, a tract written against female leadership. John Calvin warned against publishing this tract, suggesting he might come to regret it. The tract was primarily directed at the Catholic Marys, whom he had battled in Scotland. But his language against women leadership was so strong Queen Elizabeth (a Protestant) also detested Knox. It is this tract that normally leads people to consider Knox to be masochistic, but as Dawson points out, Knox got along well with women. He had several who served as advisers. He also loved both of his wives and was in deep grief following his first wife’s death.
Bouts of depression often haunted Knox. He was constantly in fear of losing the Reformation in Scotland, a fear that was based on the political reality more than a theological trust in God. In an era where most sermons were from the New Testament, Knox often preached from the Old Testament. He saw himself as a modern day Ezekiel. His favorite book (his anchor) was the Gospel of John and at his death he asked to have the 17th Chapter of John’s Gospel. Although Knox’s preaching was strong, criticism of sermons bothered him and he took such comments personally. Later in his life, his voice was so weak that he struggled to preach (often preaching in the chapel instead of the main sanctuary).
In addition to the tons of material available on Knox’s life, Dawson drew upon the papers of Christopher Goodman that have only recently been made available. Goodman and Knox worked together when they were both exiled on the Continent (working with English speaking congregations in Frankfurt and Geneva) and later in Scotland. Although Goodman left Scotland for Ireland (Knox even considered joining him there in an evangelical mission), the two remained close the rest of their lives through correspondence.
This book is a great introduction to the life of John Knox and the world in which he lived. Knox is a complicated man. There were much to admire in him, as well as stuff to detest. On a political level, his view of a “united kingdom,” that would eventually come about, was prophetic. On an ecclesiastical level, his opposition to a prayer book that controlled worship and to clerical garments which he felt were too close to the Roman Catholic Mass has provided Presbyterians with freer forms and styles of worship. But his strict view of the church and discipline brought a harshness into Presbyterianism that has been hard to shake.
To be fair, I'm only a fifth of the way into this biography and I am learning a lot. That said, my sense so far is that the author could have benefited greatly from an editor who should have helped restructure the material and added a few more insights into the significance of the events that shaped Knox or even the significance Knox's actions were in shaping events.
Case in point: It's not at all clear to me how Knox goes from a galley slave, rowing against the tide of a Catholic ship, to preaching before the King of England, and helping shape the content of the Book of Common Prayer. It's not enough to simply mention that these things happened. I want to know more than the who and when. I want helping thinking through the how and why as well.
I feel like I might be reading the research notes, but not the final product.
Hopefully things improve as the book unfolds. I'll circle back around to update this review if it gets any better.
One small irritant is the author's writing style. She uses the words "probably" or "possibly" some 250 times in a book with some 384 pages. I'm not a historian (I write "a", not "an" deliberately), so I don't know if this is the currently acceptable way of writing history. Perhaps it is fashionable to cultivate an air of uncertainty and avoid stating facts or drawing conclusions. I do know that I find it irritating.
You probably will too. Possibly.
This author has done their homework.....no need to make us try and translate what could be said in plain English. So many authors do this.,.,and I understand why.....but if you are good....it is not necessary.
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I will look at Knox's statue in Edinburgh's New College courtyard with new eyes! Highly recommended.
It read like an epic novel - a page-turning thriller in parts - but at the same time it was a fascinating insight into a difficult and complex period of Scottish history.
It portrays Know as intolerant yes - but it is much more subtle and complex than the age-old caricature. For example his supposed misogyny is put into the context of his concern that the three Marys - Guise, Tudor, Scots - were waging a war of annihilation against his fellow Calvinists and his concern that if a Queen of Scotland took a foreign King as husband then the interests of that foreign King's country (whether Spain or France) would overwhelm the interests of Scotland.
I have to say that this book is one of the best histories and biographies I have ever read. I have already been enthusiastically recommending it to others.