After the fanfare given by many respected reviewers, I was expecting the biography of the decade! To be fair, while this book did not reach such giddy heights, it certainly was a well-crafted and excellent introduction to the life of John Knox.
This is probably its great strength. It is a no-nonsense, readable account of a great man, arguably Scotland’s greatest hero. Many books will mark the quincentenary of this remarkable man, but few will do it in such a succinct and engaging manner.
The author has aimed his book at those who will have little or no knowledge of John Knox. His life is traced faithfully in short, punchy chapters. It is loyal to the Reformed view and will delight most ET readers.
An added charm is the generous sprinkling of Lloyd-Jones quotes on Knox. Another feature of the book is its emphasis on ‘Knox the preacher’, coming from a writer who is himself clearly passionate about preaching.
Knox was, of course, more than a preacher. He was an able organiser, encourager and theologian. Nonetheless, the real heartbeat of Knox was his preaching — the so-called ‘trumpeter of God’, who put terror even into queens.
For more seasoned readers of Reformation history (and of Knox in particular), there will be little that is new here. If, however, you are unaware of the life and impact of Knox and want a quick, easy introduction, then this is the book for you.
Stuart Fisher
Bournemouth
