Customer Reviews

William Cowper: The Man of God's Stamp

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This biography of William Cowper was clearly written by one who has, through extensive research and study, developed a great affection for him. The biggest problem with this book is that the author spends too much time "arguing" with those who do not share such affection.

There is a lot of print given to defending Cowper against critics who have either dismissed his faith as simply conforming to what was expected of him at the time, as the cause or effect of his mental illness, or simply irrelevant to his poetry. Those who have read the work of such scholars will be glad to see this account that takes Cowper's faith at face value and does not try to dismiss or devalue it. This was important, and I am glad Dr. Ella did it, but the method he used was a point/counterpoint style and I found myself feeling like I was at a ping pong match. Those of us who are committed Christians are used to the hostility of those who are not (particularly in the academic world) and it was not necessary to quote them as extensively as he did.

The chapter titled "Cowper the Calvinist" ostensibly sets out to prove that Cowper was a Calvinist (which it does) but in it, the author also offers a rigorous defense of Calvinism. While defending and explaining Calvinism, Dr. Ella accuses Armenians such as John Wesley of being hypocritical and wrongheaded in their theology. Given the widespread respect Mr. Wesley has even among those that disagree with some of the points of his theology, this seems harsh. Anyone not of a Reformed denomination will feel attacked and, more than likely, offended by this chapter.

Over all I feel like I know a little more about the life of William Cowper, particularly the influence the women in his life had on him, but a lot more about Dr. Ella's veiws on matters of faith, theology and the previous academic treatment of the poet.

This book would have been a lot better if the author had simply made his case for his interpretation of Cowper's life and then moved on. I was looking for an uplifting book to remind me of what the life touched by God can be and instead I read what felt like several acrimonious debates.