Customer Reviews

Once Blind: The Life of John Newton

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"Once Blind" by Kay Marshall Strom brilliantly chronicles the life of John Newton. This beautifully written biography tells of Newton's service in the Royal Navy, his time on a slave ship, his conversion and steadfast crusade to end slavery. Written almost like a diary, the life story of the writer of "Amazing Grace" is captivatingly told in chapters broken down logically by year.

This book also brings to light how slavery still exists in our world today. Strom includes practical methods to join the abolitionist movement and help in the fight against slavery. She also provides contact information for various resources and groups with which the reader may become involved.

John Newton's life makes a very strong testimony. Reading this biography of his life is a great addition to my library and knowledge base. Since I was a child, I can remember knowing that he was the man who was a captain on a slave ship until he found peace with Christ and wrote the lyrics to the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace". I did not however realize what all that he had endured in his life and just how "bad" he really had been. I guess I only received the child edited version of his life before. This book is told from practically a diary fashion and really takes the reader through the days and years of John's life, the good, and the very bad. In comparison to me, John is extremely strong and I would have given up early on. Comparing him to Job (Biblical Job), he still had not lost everything, but to him I'm sure it seemed he had. Reading through John Newton's life was really a personal and eye awakening experience, not just for the purpose of slave-trade, but for the purpose of being a Prodigal Child of Christ and how many times you can run, but never hide. Our God is an amazing God, and so many times we just do not see. We have all been and most of the time are just blind. I do give this book my full recommendation. I also suggest the film "Amazing Grace". This would be perfect would a group or individual study as well as a wonderful homeschooling piece.

This is one of the best books I have read in years! I was so caught up in the story that I couldn't put it down. I literally stayed up all night reading the entire book! This is the kind of book you'll read again and again. Once Blind: The Life of John Newton

Several years ago I read The Infidel by Joe Musser (B&H 2001) and enjoyed it very much. It was a novel - rather than a biography - based on John Newton's life. Once Blind is very similar to The Infidel so both authors had obviously studied up on John Newton's life, though they had slightly different takes on the details. Once Blind was an easy read, though I found the symbols used to illustrate cursing like... #@(%& quite distracting at times. There was also an occasional point of view issue, but other than those minor things, I really liked the story. The fact that I finished it says a lot considering most books of the books I start never get read through to the end. At any rate, this biography was a nice review of John Newton's life and the comparison to modern day slavery issues at the end is worth considering. There is even a section that talks about how you can become a modern day abolitionist.

I also appreciated how the author used excerpts from some of Newton's sermons to make points in the story. Some scenes were pretty descriptive of the horrors of slavery, but nothing the average reader would get ill over. The details were not too graphic. At any rate, Once Blind is a worthwhile read and I definitely recommend taking the time to read it.

Kay Strom never disappoints! Her narrative non-fiction biography of John Newton takes the reader deep into the pathos of a boy, then a man, whose anger separates him from what he most longs for: acceptance. This is more than the story of a slave-ship captain turned preacher. More than the events leading up to the penning of "Amazing Grace." Once Blind opens up the pages of history and reveals the dark heart of humanity. Then, in keeping with Kay's passion to speak for those without a voice, she jumps right into the issue of slavery today. Yes, it's worse than what Newton and his colleagues lobbied parliament and spoke out against in the 1700s. If you don't believe, it, read the book!

In a new addition to the body of works dealing with the abolitionist movement in 18th century Britain, Once Blind: The Life of John Newton is marked with gritty sin, slavery, God's grace, redemption, and abolition. Following the film Amazing Grace and print biographies covering the life of William Wilberforce, Once Blind reveals the life of another key character in the movement to end slavery, John Newton. Famous for penning the hymn "Amazing Grace", we are now introduced to his life as a sinner, conversion to a saint, and his subsequent efforts to abolish slavery. Kay Marshall Strom draws on Newton's own letters and her own previous work exploring his life -- John Newton: The Angry Sailor, a biography written for pre-teens -- to present us with a cohesive, highly readable and moving story of this man's life.

Strom introduces us to Newton as a young boy, already serving on the deck of his father's ship. A sensitive boy, unable to earn his father's approval, he quickly slides down into a life of sullenness, disobedience, rebellion, and rowdy behaviour. Strom fully develops the character of Newton as a young man - surly, blasphemous, an enemy of God, and of nearly everyone else who knows him. Strom is able to portray Newton's indulgence in swearing and blasphemy by utilizing asterisks, dollar signs and other symbols throughout his conversations, without actually inserting the curse words. She is able to thoroughly depict the extent of Newton's sin without divulging needlessly graphic details.

Due to his difficult nature and unhidden disdain for authority, Newton is transferred from ship to ship throughout his career. He serves for a time on a navy ship through enforced service during wartime (kidnapped at the docks). Readers of naval fiction will enjoy the authentic descriptions of life aboard a navy vessel, both from the lowly position of common seaman, and privileged position of midshipman. As we watch Newton descend into the darkest depths of his sin, some of the scenes we encounter are nightmarish, and nearly unbelievable, particularly after he leaves the navy. Some seem so far from our day-to-day experiences that they seem almost hallucinatory in nature.

When a disastrous storm strikes the ship that Newton is aboard he finally surrenders to God, and the transformation is abrupt and amazing. Like all conversions it is almost impossible to recognize the new man that Newton has become, though some traces are still present. Oddly enough, Newton enters into slave trading only after his conversion, and we are able to watch God's grace continue to work in his life, transforming him and eventually moving him out of the slave trade and into the ministry with his loyal wife beside him. He eventually pens his well-known hymn, and many others -- a fairly new form of worship in his day -- and comes to speak out publicly against slavery, while making known his own testimony and involvement in the trade.

Unlike other Newton biographies, Strom ties the history of the British abolitionist movement together with current day human rights issues - effectively, modern day slavery, that she outlines in the epilogue. She briefly explains some of the primary ways we find slavery enacted today. Also provided is a list of human rights organizations that we can partner with to learn more about these injustices, and work together with to eliminate them.

Written in an easy-to-read, narrative style, Once Blind is a rapid, yet comprehensive assay into the life, conversion and work of John Newton. Readers will stand in awe at the transformative power of God's grace in the work of all sinners who throw themselves on His mercy. The redemptive power of God is clearly shown, and I for one, love a good testimony! Highly accessible and recommended to both those seeking to learn more about this period in history, and those longing to know John Newton better as a man.

This is a great read. It is a real page turner. If you saw the movie, "Amazing Grace", then you will want to read this book!

As a middle school teacher, I am always looking for good books to enrich my students' lives. "Once Blind: The Life of John Newton" caught my eye recently. I've always thought a lot of the story of John Newton, so I read this with the anticipation of using it in the classroom. And I don't think I'll be disappointed. I've just bought enough copies for all my students and hope to incorporate the book into my plans this spring.

Strom has a gift for pulling the reader into the story. I've always been interested in the lives of John Newton and William Wilberforce, and Strom's "Once Blind" neatly complements these two. What a story of God providence! The life of John Newton, as well as those around him -William Wilberforce and William Cowper- confirm the rewards of perseverance.

Strom mentions Isaac Watts throughout the book. I would love to find (or Strom the write!) an accessible biography of Watts' life for middle / high school students. As much as possible, we should try to preserve the memory and work of these great reformers.

Reading "Once Blind" will reward you!

It is a great story about the life of John Newton. I was interested in his relationship with William Wilberforce. This helps explain it. I think it explains more than the movie Amazing Grace.

Once Blind is more of a novel about John Newton's life than his biography. The line is blurred between what the author has added in herself and what is factually true. That being said, this book has been a page turner with a rude awakening as to what the slave trade of the 18th century was actually like, and a perfect example of a God that will not let any of His children out of his grasp no matter how hard we struggle to get away.