An important new biography of America's founding religious father.
Jonathan Edwards was America's most influential evangelical, whose revivals of the 1730s became those against which all subsequent ones have been judged.
The marvelous accomplishment of Philip Gura's Jonathan Edwards is to place the rich intellectual landscape of America's most formidable evangelical within the upheaval of his times. Gura not only captures Edwards' brilliance but respectfully explains the enduring appeal of his theology: in a world of profound uncertainty, it held out hope of an authentic conversion---the quickening of the indwelling spirit of God in one's heart and the consequent certitude of Godly behavior and everlasting grace.
Tracing Jonathan Edwards' life from his birth in 1703 to his untimely death in 1758, Gura magnificently reasserts Edwards rightful claim as the father of America's evangelical tradition.
"A gauntlet-throwing biography...controversial, and a quick, enjoyable read. Gura will grab at least some of the audience of armchair-history-lovers that professional historians always claim they want to reach."
Kirkus
"Gura's brilliant cultural history of Edwards and his times splendidly reveals a side of the evangelist that has often been overlooked."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Gura puts into perspective not only problems in today's churches but also personal religious experiences while also illustrating Edwards's cogent thinking in a transatlantic discourse that addressed free will, election, and the sovereignty of God…Recommended for large libraries."
