Customer Reviews

William Wilberforce: A Biography

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4 star:		(2)
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Tompkin's has written a sympathetic biography of the great reformer but the author shows a better understanding of Wiberforce's Christianity than he does of his conservatism. I think that the author is in danger of judging Wilberforce by 21st century standards over his opposition to trades unions, support of fewer of civil liberties in the face of threatened French invasion and the persecution of the promoters of atheistic books. Wilberforce's campaign to abolish the slave trade is the major theme of the book as it was the dominating thing in his life. But this history would be improved by the inclusion of a brief chronology or time line, putting Wilberforce's campaign and life in the world historic context of the time which included the American and French revolutions as well as the rise and fall of Napoleon. Wilberforce turned down all office and advancement including a peerage. He was ever a man of principle not party, a great philanthropist and saint whose perseverance was a greater gift than his oratory.

This is just as expected. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others.

A thorough, inspiring, and insightful biography, although the author at times displays a mean-spirited judgmental streak.

this book was a difficult read. It contained information that was necessary to the story but a knowledge of the process of British law making was needed to completely understand the book. Most of the people at my church are not really 'into' British Parlimentary procedure. I am not wholeheartly recommending to the members or my church this book.