JOHN SHELTON REED |
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Glorious Battle“The book shows a grasp of the sources that is both broad and deep. It combines historical erudition, an illuminating orienting perspective, and an engaging style of presentation, with much to interest the specialist while remaining accessible to the general reader.”
(C. J. T. Talar, Catholic Historical Review) “Reed’s grasp of the background that produced Anglo-Catholicism and his interpretation of Anglicanism in the early decades of the nineteenth century are superb. Scholarly and entertaining . . . . a significant contribution to the study of nineteen-century Anglicanism.” (Rene Kollar, Albion) “Should be read by everyone with a serious interest in Victorian religion, whether that interest is literary, historical, political, theological, or sociological. Those interested in issues of class and gender during the period will also find valuable insights here. [But] Glorious Battle can be read for sheer enjoyment: the prose is clear, energetic, and witty; the arguments ingenious and convincing.” (Julie Melnyk, Nineteenth-Century Prose) “An impressive blend of social history and the sociological study of political culture. . . . Reed’s deep empirical analysis . . . is thoroughly researched and provides valuable comparative data for sociologists and historians.” (Gene Burns, American Journal of Sociology) “Stylish, witty, well-researched and learned. . . . Will be the standard work on ritualism and Anglo-Catholicism in the nineteenth century for many years to come.” (W. M. Jacob, Heythrop Journal) “Though scholarly and professorially deadpan, Reed . . . has an attractive affection for his subject: particularly its famous and famously oddball figures, polemical language and political irony. . . . An engaging work for students and scholars of history, social and religious movements and Victorian literature.” (Genevieve Stuttaford, Publishers Weekly) “Impressively researched, . . . a lucid and illuminating analysis. . . . Reed’s interpretation is convincing; it explains much. [He] presents his scholarship with a light touch and a sense of humour. A valuable feature of this book is that it conveys so much of the distinctive culture and ethos of Victorian Anglo-Catholicism, not only through theological and biographical works but also through the evidence of church furnishings, advertisements, cartoons, novels, pamphlets and churchy gossip.” (David Hilliard, Journal of Ecclesiastical History) "John Shelton Reed is a professor of sociology, and at times views his subject through sociological spectacles. This could have made for turgid reading in the hands of a less competent stylist. Fortunately he writes with an elegance and wit which make his book a pleasure to read." (Bernard Palmer, Church Times) "The fruit of the happy marriage of empirical research with a simple model. [I]ntellectually satisfying; it is a good model for other scholars to follow." (D. G. Paz, Victorian Studies) “A learned and subtle decoding of symbolic confrontation between Anglo-Catholics and the Victorian family and the Erastian establishment. . . . [T]he working focus of his argument is irony and paradox. . . .” (David Martin, Times Literary Supplement) “[A] substantial and impressive scholarly reconstruction of a cultural and social fabric, which takes the historiography of Anglo-Catholicism on to a very different plane. . . . a dry wit and a talent for selecting telling quotations. . . . an important contribution to historical understanding, and a valuable illustration of the rich potentialities of religious history.” (John Wolffe, English Historical Review) “Put[s] the ritualist movement into a coherent interpretive framework. . . . [H]e has mastered a wealth of material, including archival material hitherto unexploited . . . . tell[s] a good story and has an eye for the significant and the amusing, if not wacky, side of the tale. . . . combines empathy and intuition with a certain wry detachment. . . . a major scholarly contribution to Anglican history and Victorian studies.” (Perry Butler, American Historical Review) “Detailed without pedantry, humorous while respecting its subject.” (John C. Hawley, Victorian Periodicals Review) “Often hilarious. . . . full of wonderful knobbly detail. . . . Mr. Reed is a story-teller in the great Southern tradition. ” (Linda Bridges, National Review) “A refreshing and polished account.” (Choice) "Reed . . . has produced a work that must be read by anyone interested in the histiory of Victorian England or the Anglican Church." (Church of England Newspaper) "Rich in witty asides. . . . Magisterial." (Church Times) "Reed's book is a terrific history of the Anglo-Catholic movement in England. . . . His prose is lucid, his style humorous. This book was difficult to put down except during periods of helpless laughter." (Brian L. Peterson) "Reed writes with humor and wit, leading the reader through a romp of churchy controversies from Anglicanism's most flamboyant period. But under this humor is a bedrock of deep theological insight, spirituality, and that elusive Christian concept called 'Grace.'" (David William Peters) "Priests and lay leaders will perhaps be surprised at how relatable the characters and conflicts are in Glorious Battle. . . . [M]any of the themes that facilitated the Ritualist movement (and conflicts) are present in The Episcopal Church today." (Steven C. Rice, The Chapter [Nashotah House]) |