Amazing Grace - by Steve Turner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Steve Turner is a tough-minded poet with an ear for the psalms, an eye for the miracles in the mundane and an understanding of how despair can break the ground for joy to take root. The story of 'Amazing Grace' is just that: a gospel song with out any of the big-grinning cheesiness often found in that genre. As a musician, I am often struck by the phrase 'sweet the sound'as in 'Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)'. I love to think music can be an instrument of grace...that there might be mercy in melody and that at the very least a great song can fill the silence of indifference we sometimes find in our hearts." -Bono

From acclaimed music writer Steve Turner, an unprecedented and illuminating study of this inspirational hymn

Behind our most beloved hymn is a fascinating story spanning continents, cultures, and centuries. Inspired by the way this piece of music continues to live and grow, acclaimed writer Steve Turner traces "Amazing Grace" from the composition of its lyrics by former slave trader John Newton, to its current status as the most popular hymn in America.

John Newton had been rescued from Africa by a merchant ship when, during an 11-hour storm on the Atlantic, he began his conversion to Christianity. Years later, as a minister, he wrote the hymn for use among his congregation. Through the 19th century "Amazing Grace" appeared in more and more hymn books, and in the 20th century it rose to a gospel and folk standard before exploding into pop music, and has been recorded by artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Johnny Cash, and Destiny's Child. Amazing Grace closely examines this modern history of the hymn through personal interviews with recording artists.

With in-depth research and personal interviews with recording artists, Amazing Grace is a thorough and illuminating musical history--as well as a source of comfort and inspiration at a time when America is rediscovering its spirituality and its tradition.

From the Back Cover

Behind our most beloved hymn is a fascinating story spanning continents, cultures, and centuries. Inspired by the way "Amazing Grace" continues to change and grow in popularity, acclaimed music writer Steve Turner embarks on a journey to trace the life of the hymn, from Olney, England, where it was written by former slave trader John Newton, to tiny Plantain Island off the coast of Africa, where Newton was held captive for almost a year, to the Kentucky-Tennessee border and other parts of the South, where the hymn first began to spread.

Newton had been rescued from Africa by a merchant ship when, during an eleven-hour storm on the Atlantic, he converted to Christianity. Years later, as a minister, he wrote the hymn for use among his congregation. Through the nineteenth century, "Amazing Grace" appeared in more and more hymn books, and in the twentieth century it rose to a gospel and folk standard before exploding into pop music. It has been recorded by artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Tiny Tim, Al Green, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Chet Baker, and Destiny's Child. Amazing Grace closely examines this modern history of the hymn through personal interviews with recording artists.

From John Newton's incredible life story to the hymn's role in American spirituality and culture, Amazing Grace is an illuminating, thorough, and unprecedented musical history.

Review Quotes

"This carefully crafted and finely probed book will stand as the definitive look at what is perhaps the most popular hymn in American history." - Publishers Weekly
"Turner pens an informative biography of the man who wrote "Amazing Grace" and a comprehensive chronicle of the hymn's journey to cultural iconhood... A sensitive and thoughtful take on a much-loved song." - Kirkus Reviews
"Turner measures different perspectives [on "Amazing Grace"] with a hipster's eye and a parishioner's faith." - People
"As a musician, I am often struck by the phrase 'sweet the sound'as in 'Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)'. I love to think music can be an instrument of grace...that there might be mercy in melody and that at the very least a great song can fill the silence of indifference we sometimes find in our hearts." - Bono