For the lives of those we give the title Saint, and other historically noteworthy Christian men and women, written by their contemporaries, their own writings and stories about them painstakingly put together by modern day writers.

Archive - Book Titles reviewed - V

A View from the Edge

- The Autobiography of Leslie Griffiths

by Leslie Griffiths

We all find other people’s stories interesting. The questions asked at a first meeting are nearly always designed to elicit the other person’s story, where do they come from, what do they do, their family, opinions etc. An autobiography is usually a good read and this one is no exception. Biographies can be rather cerebral but an autobiography has an intimacy about it that brings it to life.
Probably best known as a Labour Peer and a former President of the Methodist Conference, The Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths was born into poverty at Burry Port near Llanelli when, in South Wales, coal was king. Deserted by his father at a young age, his mother struggled to bring up two boys in the most difficult of circumstances. Passing the 11+ set him on the road to Llanelli Grammar School, Cardiff University, itinerant preaching and, via a lectureship at Lampeter, to Methodist ministry.
Full-time ministry requires that we go where God directs us, maybe somewhere quite different from our initial presumptions. Hoping for Hong Kong, the call was to impoverished Haiti, a place and people that has remained on his and Margaret’s heart. From there to north London and on to Wesley’s Chapel, broadcasting, contacts with a myriad of influential people and opportunities to be seized. Leslie Griffiths reveals himself as a man of deep faith, perseverance and vitality, love for people and the conviction of God’s call and leading. This is a story to encourage and inspire a well-written account of an extra-ordinary journey of faith, a remarkable, fast-moving and exciting story of a life given to God and of allowing Him to lead where He will, and a life that has brought countless blessings to millions. This book is to be highly recommended.

Review by Graham Wise (09/03/11)

Hardback
Price: £18.99
Publisher: Continuum - A Bloomsbury Company
Published: 30 September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-441-19429-9

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Vivaldi: Red Priest of Venice

- History Makers: Illustrated, series

by Susan Adams

While Antonio Vivaldi is known to most people for only one piece, The Four Seasons (made famous by violinist Nigel Kennedy) the Red Priest, as he was known due to the colour of his hair, was a prolific composer of concertos (over 500 of which survive), choral works and operas (over 40 of which survive). While he wrote this large amount of music and had a major influence on Johann Sebastian Bach one composer (I think Puccini) dismissed Vivaldi as having written hundreds of pieces but only one tune. Like many Baroque composers, including Bach and Handel, as soon as the taste in music changed their genius was all but forgotten with Romantics such as Mendelssohn, Arnold Schering, and Fritz Kreisler having to resurrect their music. Even today pieces by the Baroque masters are being discovered and documents that tell us more about their often colourful lives.
With a life including ordination to the priesthood, censure for sexual immorality, ill health, relationships with leading Italian and other European nobility, and death as a pauper Vivaldi’s life was as colourful as his music. Susan Adam’s book Vivaldi: Red Priest of Venice, is not the most in depth book on this controversial figure but if you want to dig deeper into the life of one of the biggest stars of the Italian Baroque period then this book is one of the best launching off points I have read.

Review by Phelim McIntyre (27/01/11)

Flexiback
Price: £10.99
Publisher: Lion
Published: July 2010
ISBN: 978-0-745-95353-3

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