Amazing Grace: The Inspirational Stories of William Wilberforce, John Newton, and Olaudah Equiano (Radio Theatre) [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Paul McCusker (Author), Dave Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Series: Radio Theatre | Publication Date: December 18, 2006

The Radio Theatre production of Amazing Grace provides a prequel view to events featured in Amazing Grace, the movie. It offers listeners a more in-depth and personal story of each of the main characters—William Wilberforce (an evangelical Christian politician), John Newton (author of “Amazing Grace”), and Olaudah Equiano (slave turned quaker merchant)—three men instrumental in overthrowing the slave trade. The original Radio Theatre drama will bring out the essential spiritual elements in each story and show how the efforts of each man turned the tide of public opinion.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

These superb biographical audio dramas profile men of the British Enlightenment whose spiritual odysseys brought them to God and the fight against the slave trade. John Newton (1725-1807), a reformed slaver turned crusading clergyman, wrote the inspiring hymn "Amazing Grace." Olaudah Equiano (c. 1750-1797), an African slave, bought his own freedom and became an important writer and orator promoting manumission. Evangelist William Wilberforce (1780-1825) led the agitation in Parliament that resulted, a month after his death, in abolition. The fine performances and meticulous production well support the gracefully written scripts. While their characters lack dimension, the writers admirably clarify complex ideas, especially the concept of divine grace, and forcefully drive home the intense emotional journeys of the protagonists. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Tyndale Entertainment (December 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589973933
• ISBN-13: 978-1589973930
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,349 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Books on CD > Radio Shows

More About the Author

Paul has been writing since he was 10, starting on a typewriter he got for Christmas. Since then, he's published plays, sketch collections, songs and novels. Not to mention his 20 years of work on the popular children's audio program "Adventures in Odyssey," and its companion series "Radio Theatre." He won a Peabody Award for his drama "Bonhoeffer," and an Audie Award for his "Life of Jesus" epic. He has dramatized CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" and more recently "The Screwtape Letters." His novels include "The Mill House," "Epiphany" and his latest, "TSI: The Gabon Virus" with Dr. Walt Larimore. Paul lives in Colorado Springs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, educational and entertaining!, March 1, 2007

By 

Dan Panetti "Worldview Director" (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Amazing Grace: The Inspirational Stories of William Wilberforce, John Newton, and Olaudah Equiano (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)

This 5 CD set from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre is an outstanding audio drama that I recommend to anyone wanting to know more about the lives of these great men of faith. Wilberforce and Newton are currently more popular following the release of the movie Amazing Grace and these CDs give greater insight into their lives before and after their miraculous conversion to Christianity. The other gentleman included in this set is Olaudah Equiano. Another substantial character in the Amazing Grace movie, Equiano was a former slave who was able to purchase his freedom while in America and then returned to England to join the abolitionist movement along side Wilberforce and Newton. Equiano's book was a best-seller and he was tremendously influential in the cause of freedom for others less fortunate then he.

The production quality of the CD audio drama is first rate -- absolutely outstanding. I would recommend this set to everyone and it is entirely appropriate and entertaining enough for a younger listener as well -- probably a young middle school aged student around ten or eleven could follow the events and find the stories educational and entertaining.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, December 29, 2007

By 

B-House (so Cal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Grace: The Inspirational Stories of William Wilberforce, John Newton, and Olaudah Equiano (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)

When we picked this up I was thinking it would emphasize William Wilberforce but it actually contains three separate stories of three different men and their common passion to ban slavery from the British Empire (both in trade and practice). These are very well done and very powerful but can be graphic in their description of the horrid acts done to slaves and likely not for younger listeners. Still, I'd recommend it very highly for older listeners.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard-hitting audio dramas that appeal to both the head and the heart, January 8, 2008

By 

Joseph P. Menta, Jr. (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amazing Grace: The Inspirational Stories of William Wilberforce, John Newton, and Olaudah Equiano (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)

These three polished, visceral full-cast audio biographies present further details about the historical figures featured in the recent movie "Amazing Grace". Acting and production values are top notch, permitting one to painlessly learn about a little-discussed topic: the 18th century slave trade from the British point of view. I also gained a lot of respect for "Focus on the Family", the Christian production company that produced these dramas: the company could have played down Christian complicity in this truly evil business, but instead aimed a spotlight at the centuries-long willingness of obstensibly Christian men to allow, and actively profit from, the African slave trade. Two of the stories here revolve around men who eventually see that contradiction in themselves and start to do something about it, and the remaining story recounts the story of one particular slave and his efforts to attain freedom and prosperity. Though I usually am drawn to more secular fare when selecting audiobooks to listen to in the car, the stories featured in "Amazing Grace" absorbed me from first disc to last.