Customer Reviews

Holy Man: Father Damien of Molokai

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"Holy Man" is undoubtedly the finest and most scholarly work to date on this topic. Prior to Daws' work, the overwhelming majority of books on this topic have been somewhat biased as they were produced by Catholic clergy and lay writers. Daws has brought the secular historian's skill to this subject and has produced a truly balanced account of the life and work of Father Joseph DeVeuster. Only a visit to the Molokai, Hawaii, settlements of Kalawao and Kalaupapa will provide the reader with a more detailed account of Father Damian's life and work among the lepers of Molokai. Father Daimian was beautified in 1993. A church inquiry is underway to determine whether or not this "Holy Man" should be made a Catholic saint. "Holy Man" is required reading for anyone even marginally interested in Hawaiian history. In the short period of time this work has been in print, it has become required reading for all students of Hawaiian History, American approaches to chronic and incurable disease and Catholic doctrine pertaining to leprosy and lepers. Daws has written a masterful account of the life and works of this important nineteenth century Catholic clergyman. "Holy Man" is the definitive work on Father Damian and is likely to remain so well into the next century. Father Damian was buried on the island of Molokai until earlier this century when his remains were exhumed and re-interred in his home of Louvain, Belgium. Today, only his hand remains buried on the island of Molokai. The hand is widely regarded as a religious relic.

I visited the leper colony on the island of Molokai, the villages of Kalawao and Kalaupapa last March and this book was recommended to me. I picked it up from a gift shop there as I went round visiting the sites of Fr Damien's enormous and extensive ministry. I also heard from the tour guides, stories of the zeal and dedication with which he ministered to the ill-fated leprosy patients. I also knew about him from other sources.

The book is a wonderful read. It brings to the light of the world a rather obscure life of a Catholic priest who belonged to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts Fathers and worked in the mission of Hawaii. His devotion and dedication to the ministry in favor of the lepers and his eventual martyrdom as a leper seemed to have moved this non-Catholic writer to go into detailed research and strenuous investigation to bring out such a classic work on the subject. Gavan Daws does not idealize Fr Damien's life or make him a superman. According to him Fr Damien was an ordinary man, a priest with his own frailties and flaws, at the same time a hero and a martyr worthy to be called `holy.' The book in fact, is more than a mere biography of the leper priest. A lot of research and study has gone into the writing of this book which is a story of leprosy in the Hawaiian islands, a history of the Church in the second half of the nineteenth century, besides being the life of a saint-to-be. I hope that the book will inspire ordinary people to make deep personal commitments and fulfill them with extraordinary devotion and fervor.

When people analyze the life of a soon-to-be saint, such as Damien, it's not uncommon for them to gloss over any imperfections. This book, thankfully, doesn't do that. What it does do is show you a very human man, not an intellectual, not the star of his religious community or even his family, but a very devoted man who made an incredible difference in the lives of so many who others wouldn't even touch. Read it.

Gavan Daws does an excellent job writing an unbiased account of the life of Father Damien. The author shows great respect for all the characters that appear in this story. The history surrounding Damien's life is accurate and enjoyable. The book is very inspiring and eye-opening. A must-read if you are interested on the Hawaiian Islands.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who is curious about Father Damien of Molokai. It is comprehensive, non-religious, well written, and well structured. Gavan Daws did a great job describing Father Damien, his negative as well his positive attributes. It includes the actual photos of key players and drawings of the Kalawao settlement, the quarantined area of the island. Readers can glimpse into the lives of those people afflicted with the leprosy and, of course, Father Damien, who was the first priest to volunteer to go to the settlement. Even when he caught the dreaded disease himself some 11 years later, he never slowed down his activities. He wanted to make sure that the programs that he started will continue long after he was gone. He died of leprosy on Monday, April 15, 1889. He was 49 years old.

2/22/09 - I just saw on MSNBC that Father Damien will be declared a saint on 10/11/09 at a Vatican ceremony! I can almost hear Father Damien chuckling in Heaven!

Very interesting, and informative on the times that the event was occuring in the Hawaiian islands. The story kept focused, and was very easy to read and keep up with.

I wanted to read more about Father Damien before he is canonized a saint in October 2009. Gavan Daws has done much research before writing this biography of Damien DeVeuster. His style gives the reader much insight as to Damien's spirituality and his aim to be of service to others; on occasion, Damien had to ride a horse, and even swim to the village where he was to meet some of the people. He loved the people he served. What a wonderful inspiration to us!

excellent book on father damien. I would like to visit the shrine. The book was written very well. truly he was a HOLY MAN

I found this to be a well researched and very interesting , scholarly book and could not put it down!
Gavan Daws is a wonderful writer and I think this will prove to be one of the best books written about this energetic and holy man, Damien.
He lived a life of service,sacrifice and wanted only to follow in the footsteps of his Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to serve, not to be served. Damien was very human and annoyed many of the clergy and government officials in Hawaii. But in the end most saw him as he truly was... dedicated, holy,and interested only in the welfare of his fellow lepers. He poured out his life for them.
This is not a wholly religious book but,also, an historical one. Mr. Daws draws a portrait of a man,at times conflicted and with bouts of depression, yet able to build a community with homes, shelters,infirmaries and churches . He loved and provided for these forsaken people ,when most others had turned their backs to them. I so admire this new saint. He is an inspiration and a model for many.
I encourage you to read this book..it is well worth the price!

This is an informative book about Damien and his life. It quickly skips past his childhood and jumps right into the "meat" of Damien's story, which really starts with his deciding to become a priest, following in his older brother, Pamphile's, steps. Ironically, Pamphile was the original choice to go to Molokai and serve the lepers in the colony at Kalawao. But he contracted typhus, and although he later fully recovered, Damien eagerly petitioned his superiors to replace his older brother. Considered "green" and over-eager to do missionary work, they nevertheless eventually let him go. And the rest is history, so they say.

Gavan Daws writes in an easy-to-read style while expertly weaving in historical facts. An excellent general biography if you don't want to get weighted down with too much of the history of leprosy, Protestants in Hawaii, etc. There are other books that linger longer in the historical amphitheater of the times--and they, too, are excellent--but Holy Man gives the lay person who wants to know more, in general, about this saint an effortless ride to that goal.