Amazing Grace - by Eric Metaxas (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

This biography of England's heroic abolitionist commemorates the 200th anniversary of the ending of slavery in the United Kingdom

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) has been hailed as a one of society's great reformers. His great goal was the abolition of the slave trade and of slavery in England, and in Amazing Grace, the true story of his remarkable life and meaningful accomplishments leap off the page. Beginning with Wilberforce's religious conversion in 1784 that led him to a life of activism grounded in his deep Christian faith, this compelling historical biography chronicles his extraordinary contributions to the world, primarily his 20-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, a battle he won in 1807. He was also instrumental in passing legislation to abolish slavery in the British colonies, a victory achieved just three days before his death in 1833.

Wilberforce was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America, and the account of his fight for social justice in Amazing Grace will help many more become reacquainted with this exceptional man.

Discover the story of the man Abraham Lincoln called a hero:

• Abolitionist Crusade: Follow Wilberforce's two-decade-long battle to abolish the British slave trade, a fight he finally won in 1807.
• Faith and Politics: Explore how his profound religious conversion in 1784 reshaped his political career, turning him from an ambitious politician into one of history's greatest social reformers.
• A Legacy of Freedom: Learn about the final legislative victory won just three days before his death and how his tireless work became an inspiration for the anti-slavery movement in America.
• The Clapham Circle: Go inside the influential community of like-minded reformers who met to strategize, pray, and plot the course for social change in the British Empire.

From the Back Cover

Amazing Grace tells the story of the remarkable life of the British abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759-1833). This accessible biography chronicles Wilberforce's extraordinary role as a human rights activist, cultural reformer, and member of Parliament.

At the center of this heroic life was a passionate twenty-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, a battle Wilberforce won in 1807, as well as efforts to abolish slavery itself in the British colonies, a victory achieved just three days before his death in 1833.

Metaxas discovers in this unsung hero a man of whom it can truly be said: he changed the world. Before Wilberforce, few thought slavery was wrong. After Wilberforce, most societies in the world came to see it as a great moral wrong.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade, HarperSanFrancisco and Bristol Bay Productions have joined together to commemorate the life of William Wilberforce with the feature-length film Amazing Grace and this companion biography, which provides a fuller account of the amazing life of this great man than can be captured on film.

This account of Wilberforce's life will help many become acquainted with an exceptional man who was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America.

Review Quotes

"The little-known story of the lifelong struggle of a member of Parliament to abolish slavery in the British Empire." - USA Today

"A fine and important book." - Chicago Sun-Times