Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism [Paperback]

Henry D. Rack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2002

This biography sets Wesley and his movement against the background of his time, so that we can see the political, social and religious influences on growing Methodism. Full attention is paid to contemporary figures: not only Charles Wesley and George Whitefield but also the Moravians and others whose movements influenced Methodism, both positively and negatively. John Wesley himself emerges as a truly human figure, with many weaknesses, not least where women are concerned; and we are left to wonder that his work created a movement which has lasted for more than 250 years. This new and updated edition incorporates an expanded and revised introduction which takes account of new developments in the field, while the original bibliography and supplement of the second edition have also been updated. A new preface is included, while in the main text of the book it is indicated where new work has filled gaps in the original coverage.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Clearly the finest biography of the founder of Methodism written by an English scholar this century.' Methodist Recorder

About the Author

Henry D Rack is Bishop Fraser Senior Lecturer in Ecclesiastical History Emeritus in the University of Manchester.

Product Details

• Paperback: 680 pages
• Publisher: Epworth Pr; 3rd edition (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716205521
• ISBN-13: 978-0716205524
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE biography of John Wesley for the next 100 years, January 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism (Paperback)

Most people who know John Wesley at all, not regarding if they like or dislike him, will know at least about his "conversion" in 1738 as the lift-off of the Methodist movement. But research within the last ten to fifteen years has corrected this image totally. One of the scholars who are to earn merits for this surely is Henry D. Rack. His biography of John Wesley and the rise of Methodism in 18th century is one of the most skilful works on the subject I know. For he avoids all hagiographic tendencys which dominated nearly all biographies of Wesley and still do in popular writings. Therefore he provides a fresh image of Wesley and his companions as well as his counterparts freed from traditional presuppositions. For instance, he considers Wesleys development throughout the whole of his long lasting life where traditional Wesley- hagiographies will always put stress on the 1738 Aldergate experience of "conversion" and are not able to discuss his later development. Also, Rack considers not only Methodist communites of the Wesleyan circuit but embeds Wesley and his followers within the whole Movement of Methodism which had a lot of different aspects and leading figures (e.g. George Whitefield). After all, Wesley apears as a man like you and me, his movement as an often troublesome gathering of people like you and me. Nevertheless Rack shows the historical place and merit of John Wesley and his legacy not only to Methodism but to the English society without exaggeration. "Reasonable Enthusiast" provides not only (as the title hints) a lively image of an in many ways contradictuary man but also of his world which has vanished since a long time.
(Reader, please apologize for my teutonic English)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wesley biography, May 10, 2010

By 

Bob - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism (Paperback)

Reasonable Enthusiast is the most comprehensive biography that I have found on John Wesley. It is evident that Rack did his research and knows his subject. It contains a lot of background information and explains much of the historical context for an understanding of John Wesley and his time, as well as a good explanation of the foundation of many Methodist beliefs. I heartily recommend this book for any follower of John Wesley; but the reader may need a good dictionary since some of the terms are not exactly commonplace these days.