Martin Luther: The Great Reformer (Heroes of the Faith (Barbour Paperback)) [Paperback]

Dan Harmon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995 | Series: Heroes of the Faith (Barbour Paperback)

Recognizing from Romans 1 that God gives believers in Christ a positive righteousness, Luther refused to be silenced and became the great reformer.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9?A series of biographies reprinted from earlier paperback publications (Barbour, 1995, 1997). Their origins in earlier works survive in the elaborate language and a concentrated spiritual focus, making them difficult reading for young adults. Martin Luther has been "edited and abridged" from an adult title first published in 1933. It retains the florid language and difficult vocabulary of that era and assumes a basic knowledge of 16th-century politics and Lutheran theology unlikely to be found among teens. It is weakened, as is Wellman's book, by a lack of footnotes, table of contents, or preface. John Wesley is shown in a lifetime struggle between the strict discipline of his childhood faith and the desires of this heart. The author uses fictional dialogue and interior monologues to show the young minister's shift from smug self-righteousness to a sensitivity to the needs of the poor and an understanding of the power of charismatic preaching. Well-written biographies of these church leaders would be welcome in many libraries, but these recycled offerings do not fill the need.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

Amidst the millions of committed Christians in each generation, a handful rise to special prominence. Learn more about their exciting and inspiring lives in Barbour's "Heroes of the Faith" series.

Recognizing from Romans 1 that God gives believers in Christ a positive righteousness, Luther refused to be silenced and became the great reformer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557487278
• ISBN-13: 978-1557487278
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( L ) > Luther, Martin
  • #82 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Lutheran

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor, poor job of editing and it leaves out the best part!, July 26, 2004

By 

DWD "DWD's Reviews" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Martin Luther: The Great Reformer (Heroes of the Faith) (Library Binding)

Synopsis: A brief biography of Luther's life. Part of a series of approximately 20 books entitled Heroes of the Faith. Evidently, it is edited and abridged from a larger work by one Dan Harmon.

My review: Mr. Harmon has done a poor, poor, poor job of editing a larger work. Really bad. The book has large, direct quotes from other sources, including big chunks of the questioning of Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521. This is most appropriate since Luther was a well-spoken as well as plain-spoke debater. His text is lively and interesting to read. Even to the modern reader his meaning is quite clear and devoid of all of the flowery Renaissance nonsense that entraps other writers and bores me to distraction.

However, Harmon edited out Luther's most famous line: 'My conscience is captive to the Word of God...Here I stand I can do no other.' This is the image of Luther presented in every school book in the world - the solitary monk standing up to the entire church and against all of Europe's kings at the Diet of Worms on a matter of conscience and refusing to blink because, by God (literally), he thinks he is right and is willing to die for that belief. In my mind, this is one of those moments of heroism that everyone should admire, even if you are not a believer. But, this editor edited it out!!! The height of his shining moment - gone!!

Ironically, that quote is featured on the back of the book - it is in bold print and serves as the headline for the description of the book! AARRGH! Even sillier, the editor has left in a one page description of Charles the Elector's retinue and the parade as they entered Augusburg in 1530. Wow!!!! - if they were trying to limit the size of the book, they really edited out the wrong part!!!! Who really cares what color his men wore as they paraded into town!

My grade: The book is, in general, informative and would serve as a decent introduction to Luther. However, I cannot forgive the very poor editing job. Imagine a Lincoln biography without the Gettysburg Address, a Martin Luther King, Jr. biography without his 'I have a dream speech' or a Julius Caesar biography without 'Vini, vidi, vici.' Man, my blood is up. Imagine, printing this whole book and EDITING OUT THE POINT!!!!!!! Really, I cannot stress my irritation enough, as you all can surely tell by this point...

***Reviewer's note: please read the comment section. The editor of the text made a few comments that explain the "Diet of Worms" section was left out. Thanks, DWD 3-14-07

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting light reading, July 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Martin Luther: The Great Reformer (Heroes of the Faith (Barbour Paperback)) (Paperback)

I picked this up at a Christian book store for half price. This is an abridged book in a series on famous Christians (mostly Protestant). The author, who is clearly sympathetic with Luther's cause, devotes more attention to Luther's personal relationships and political struggle than to his theology. However, this is probably appropriate for the intended audience (the book store located it near the young readers' section). I can't compare the book to others since this is the first I've read on the topic, but I've personally found it to be an enjoyable read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MEET THE REFORMERS' ANCHOR-POINT, December 29, 2002

By 

reviewer (Zurich, Switzerland.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martin Luther: The Great Reformer (Heroes of the Faith (Barbour Paperback)) (Paperback)

This German-born Martin Luther was the most prominent of all the Sixteenth Century reformers (as well as counter-reformers). His life became his religious struggle. Though he won some and lost some, he became a symbol of religious defiance to his adversaries, and an anchor-point to his disciples.
This book did not detail us on the reason why some of his co-reformers parted ways with him; but I did enjoy the time I invested on reading it.