Monday, July 28, 2008

The New Francis Schaeffer Bio

Steve West has an interesting review here of Colin Duriez' new biography of Francis Schaeffer, one interesting enough (and by a trusted source) to cause me to already order the book. Here's an excerpt:

...What it is is the best biographical treatment of the man and his mission that has ever been written --- scholarly, without being pedantic or lifeless; sufficiently nuanced, without chasing every thread of the man’s life and work; sympathetic, and yet not avoiding the truth about the man’s weaknesses and struggles. If you want to feel what animated Francis and Edith Schaeffer, to be caught up in the emotion of what they felt, read Edith’s Tapestry and L’Abri. (Set aside sufficient time for their combined 906 pages, however!) But this is the biography for most to read, as it is concise [208 pages] and yet comprehensive enough not to miss any important detail of their story...

Colin Duriez, by the way, is an Englishman who has written extensively on the Inklings (The C. S. Lewis Handbook, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, The Inklings Handbook, Tolkien And The Lord Of The Rings: A Guide To Middle-earth et al) as well as other books including AD 33: The Year That Changed the World and The Poetic Bible. Duriez won the Clyde S. Kilby Award in 1994 for his work.