Customer Reviews

A Man Called Peter: The Story of Peter Marshall

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
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The description of Peter's passing is alone worth the price of this book. Catherine (wife) tells how she sat quietly by his body, draped and covered on the hospital bed, and became aware that his presence and another presence was there in the room with her, which she describes as "vivid" and "transcendent". After precisely 50 minutes, the luminous presences left the room.

You gotta read this book. His sermons are in the back. These too, are very inspiring.

As someone related to those who have served in the clergy, I found Catherine Marshall's ardent tribute to her late husband, Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall particularly heartwarming and inspiring.
As her husband (who became affectinately known as "Twittering-Birds Marshall" because of the flowery phrasing he gave to his wonderful sermons) painted vivid imagery with the parables he told, she paints a vivid image of his all-too-brief life.
Through her words, we see the winsome Scottish lad who suffers the tragic loss of his father at age four, whose hardscrabble experiences and humble beginnings would lead him to have great compassion for others in similar circumstances, the spiritual depth he developed on the occassions when his Inner Voice saved him from accidental death, the inspiration he received from fellow Scottish churchman Eric Liddell, his Scottish wit, and fun-loving style. He was a man I feel I would have liked, as did many, and had he lived a few more years, he might have been highly instrumental in the struggle for Civil Rights, judging from the deferrence he gave to the writings of African American men of faith, James Weldon Johnson, and George Washington Carver, and his expressed concern for underpriviledged minorities. His sermon, "The American Dream", is still very timely in the modern world.
Readers follow him through his immigration to the United States, his entrance into the clergy, his meeting of Catherine, the difficulty of finding time to spend with her due to mounting ministerial duties, his marriage, his camaraderie with other ministers, the high emotion of embracing U.S. Citizenship, the use of his sharp sense of humor to win people over to Christ, his enthusiasm for board games, sports, life itself, and also his great love for his family and humanity in general.
I can hear the melodic trill of his brogue when his quotes appear in the story as his wife recaptures the rhythm of his speech patterns, and each chapter is headed with appropriate Biblical verses that summarize their contents.
Dr. Marshall was nonimated as Senate Chaplain while serving in the church where Abraham Lincoln once worshipped, and upon his election became a much-loved confidant of Senators on both sides of the aisle. Michigan Senator, Arthur Vandenberg (who himself passed away around the time of this book's publication in 1951), affectionately called him, "Dominie", the Dutch word for "Parson".
We share the couple's delight at the birth of their son, "Wee Peter" in the years prior to Dr. Marshall's rise to the Chaplaincy of the Senate, the challenges to their faith brought on by Catherine's bout with tuberculosis, and Peter's heart trouble, and see how much prayer meant in their lives at such time. We also see how Peter's illness inspired others to pray. But we are also made aware that not everyone admired the Marshalls and that the Good Reverend was subjected to anti-immigrant backlash as well as misinterpretations of the meaning of his sermons. He had his moments of self-doubt, as does everyone.
Dr. Marshall's instinctiveness in changing his sermon for the graduating class of the Annapolis Naval Academy, which he gave just hours before the announcement of the attack on Pearl Harbor is formidable, and through his warm, consoling mannerisms, Christ became warm and alive in the hearts and minds of many. Through Marshall's example, many lives were changed for the better.
We also see how this spiritually attuned couple helped produce some of Peter's best sermons in joint ventures that made their life's pilgrimage a real partnership.
Five days after his attendance of President Truman's second inaguration, this fine representative of Christ on Earth was lost to the world. But his sweetness, and love for his wife were evident until the very end. As he passed from this life, the Holy Spirit gave Catherine the strenghth to carry on with her life, and to console others. As she worked on her late husband's story, he appeared to her in a dream, providing encouragement, but still letting that sparkling Scottish wit shine through, perhaps more eminently, in the afterlife.
The last words he spoke to her, "See you in the morning", would carry her through the years.--Through the acclaim of this biography, the 1955 film of the same name in which Richard Todd gave an adorable performance as Peter, an eventual second marriage, the entrance of her son into the Presbyterian ministry, her own success with the novel, "Christy" and other religious literature, and eventually, her own undoubtably happy reunion with Peter in March, 1983.
Her son honors the rich spiritual legacy of his parents by continuing the family tradition. As did his own father, Peter John Marshall lost his father in childhood, and perhaps strives to know him by following in his footsteps. Perhaps he knows the Senate Chaplain who was his father better than the elder Dr. Marshall knew his father through the availability of the Senate Chaplain's recorded sermons and writings.
Christ said"...Whosover liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"--John 11:25, 26
As the life of Dr. Marshall continues to inspire many all these years later, I'll say that I do.

This book is wonderful! I'm in my teens and love to read everything from biographies to fiction books. A Man Called Peter is one of my favorites. Catherine Marshall's writing is so down to earth and personal you begin to feel as if you know this Man Called Peter as a friend. My little brother was read this book when he was six years old and a year later he still talks about "Enormous" Peter and Wee Peter, the father and son in the book. This book is one of his favorites, too.

Catherine Marshall writes an interesting and insightful biography of her late husband, Peter Marshall. Peter Marshall was a poor Scottish immigrant who came to the United States, worked at odd jobs to put himself through the seminary, and eventually became such a prominent minister that he was appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate. The book also tells the story of Peter and Catherine, and how their relationship blossoms and grows, and is severely tested over the years.

The works of both Peter and Catherine Marshall live on even though they are no longer among us. Fortunate for us that their legacy is still available, as we're richer for it.
Peter was Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, a position he had not sought. He was a Scottish immigrant to this country. This book describes how God orchestrated the circumstances that led to a life of accomplishment from an eternally significant perspective.
On page 15 she tells us, "Peter Marshall did not grow up wanting to be a minister. That was God's idea--not his." She says often God has to shut a door in order for us to go through the door he wants us to go through.
Eric Liddell was a significant influence in Peter's younger years. He was the Scottish olympian who was more committed to Jesus than to winning international acclaim.
I underlined what was said about dreams in the part of the book on Peter's early years. "I learned that just because God loves us so much, often He guides us by planting His own lovely dream in the barren soil of a human heart," she notes. Later on she adds that if the dreams are really of God, even though they may be carried a long time, they often suddenly become reality.
I also love what the way she describes the book-lined place Peter inhabited. "Books lined one wall--good books--inspiring and instructive--good books--good friends."
One of several idiosyncrasies I share with Peter Marshall is that we're both "night owls." She says he was usually his best and brightest around midnight.
Throughout this book on her late husband, Catherine puts her thoughts into a reflective framework. She talks about Jesus and living life with the long view in mind. Along those lines she talks about Jesus, noting that he never refused anyone who came to Him for help. She says even if we lack faith, we can ask Him for it because faith is a gift of God.
She modifies the phrase which is so commonly cited, "God helps those who help themselves," by writing that actually, "God helps those who trust Him to solve their problems."
This is a well-researched, well-written, inspiring, faith-building, positive book that will make you a better person from having read it.

Dr. Peter Marshall's story about his rough childhood with the endless desire to go to sea,
his eventual immigration to America after the LORD's calling him into the ministry,
his seminary education,
his marriage to Catherine Marshall (then Catherine Wood),
his pastorate at N.Y. Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington
D.C.,
the birth of his son Peter John Marshall,
his appointment to the position of Chaplain to the U.S. Senate,
and his tragic death in 1949,
are all wonderfully brought to life in this amazing biography of one of America's greatest preachers.
Catherine Marshall has been a blessing to my life and has brought me closer to Christ through her many Christian books. Dr. Marshall himself has allowed me to probe deeper into the meaning of salvation by faith alone and his audio tape entitled "Can You be Wrong?" available at Peter Marshall Ministries - have been instruments used by God in the event of the salvation of many. His sermons included at the end of this book, especially the one entitled, "The American Dream", has been especially pertinent to issues that still exist in the USA today, and served as my Speech and Debate piece as a high school senior. Although Dr. Marshall was more of a story teller, rather than an exegetical minister, his sermons are up there with Dr. John MacArthur and other ministers who I love and trust. I would recommend this biography over the biographies of any other minister I have read to date.
If the LORD had this much in mind for a poor Scottish immigrant with nine and a half dollars in his old brown wallet when he arrived at Ellis Island almost 90 years ago...imagine what he could have in store for you and me!

. . .of the 20th century!

In this volume, lovingly penned by his wife, the late Catherine Marshall, the greater Christian world is introduced to one of the foremost Protestant ministers of the 20th century.

Peter Marshall was an immigrant from Scotland who, at a young age, felt the call of God on his life. From this call, he never wavered. This biography details his life, his struggles as a young pastor, and his eventual triumphs as the pastor of New York Avenune Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC and his appointment as Chaplain to the United States Senate.

Throughout we're given glimpses of Dr. Marshall's wit, his humor, his zest for life -- and his devotion to his God. His untimely death at 46 was a great loss to the Christian community.

As an additional bonus, several of Dr. Marshall's prayers and sermons can be found in this book as well.

A wonderful, inspirational read.

Five stars.

I have both the movie and the book. I saw the movie when I was a child and it made an impression on me. I never forgot it. I have a grandson who is becoming a minister and I wanted him to see the movie. I haven't read the book yet, but I will soon. I feel sure it is better than the movie. I believe Peter Marshall was an outstanding minister and we can learn a lot from him. I am now 60 years old. This man has touched many lives over the years even since he died. I also have the book of his sermons. Catherine Marshall has kept his memory going and she is an awesome writer.

The book and the movie changed my life...I have never understood that while the movie received high praise from critics it has been largely ignored in places like AFT's 100 Most Inspirational Movies...if you have not seen the movie..A Man Called Peter, be sure to treat yourself to a tremendously inspirational experience..

I first read this book about 50 years ago. I was 14. It is still one of my favorites, frequently re-read, always enjoyed. Peter Marshall was a commanding presence, a man respected and much loved. After reading this book I purchased books of his sermons, and even 50 years later I cherish the small book of his sermons that my boyfriend at the time gave me as a Christmas gift. Life is so very different now, so much more complicated, but Dr. Marshall's insights and sermons are possibly more applicable now than they were then. Everyone should own this book and read it regularly.