Author: John Wigger File Type: pdf ReviewUndeniably the most comprehensive and scholarly biography of Francis Asbury written in more than a century, John Wiggers American Saint fills a major gap in the historiography of American religion. This lively and well-researched narrative that includes more than one hundred pages of endnotes superbly expresses the character of a British immigrant from a working-class heritage whose labors significantly transformed the religious landscape of postrevolutionary America.-- Terry D. Bilhartz, The Journal of American History Splendid...--Mark Noll, Christian Centuryan amazing new book... -- David Crumm, Read the Spirit Francis Asbury had an immense influence in shaping the early American Republic in that he promoted and oversaw the phenomenal growth of the fledgling Methodist movement at a rate that would soon make it Americas largest Protestant denomination. John Wigger provides a definitive and illuminating biography that is to be recommended to all who wish to understand the sort of leadership that makes great religious movements succeed. --George Marsden, Author of Jonathan Edwards A Life Francis Asbury was one of the three or four most important religious leaders in American history, but until now he has lacked a comprehensive biography. John Wigger fills this gap splendidly. But much more than filling a gap, Wiggers rich account of the man who created American Methodism as the marvel of its age also reveals a great deal about the United States in its formative decades. This is a terrific book on a major figure. --Mark A. Noll, Author of Americas God From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln Wiggers superbly researched and clearly written biography deservedly rehabilitates one of Americas unlikeliest but most significant religious leaders. From his humble beginnings in England, Francis Asbury probably did more to reshape the religious culture of the new Republic than any other individual. --David Hempton, Author of Methodism Empire of the Spirit Wiggers biography does much more than simply satisfy a decades-old call for a critical biography of Asbury and refute simplistic and outdated characterizations of the man, though. It challenges common assumptions about religious leadership in American history...This is an important contribution to American religious history. --Christopher Jones, Religion in American History [An] informative, comprehensive biography of Francis Asbury ... [A] well-crafted biography that brings Asbury into sharper focus and elevates his status within the pantheon of major religious leaders in the US...Recommended. --ChoiceAt least thirteen biographies of Asbury have been published since 1852. John Wiggers volume is the first one that fully meets the requirements of academic scholarship, yet its graceful prose will make it accessible to a wide audience. --West Virginia History Asbury has not lacked for biographies, but Wiggers is definitive and magisterial. --Christian CenturyAbout the AuthorJohn Wigger is Professor of History at the University of Missouri.

Author: Brian Schiff File Type: pdf The challenge of life and literary narrative is the central and perennial mystery of how people encounter, manage, and inhabit a self and a world of their own - and others - creations. With a nod to the eminent scholar and psychologist Jerome Bruner, Life and Narrative The Risks and Responsibilities of Storying Experience explores the circulation of meaning between experience and the recounting of that experience to others. A variety of arguments center around the kind of relationship life and narrative share with one another. In this volume, rather than choosing to argue that this relationship is either continuous or discontinuous, editors Brian Schiff, A. Elizabeth McKim, and Sylvie Patron and their contributing authors reject the simple binary and masterfully incorporate a more nuanced approach that has more descriptive appeal and theoretical traction for readers. Exploring such diverse and fascinating topics as Narrative and the Law, Narrative Fiction, the Short Story, and Life, The Body as Biography, and The Politics of Memory, Life and Narrative features important research and perspectives from both up-and-coming researchers and prominent scholars in the field - many of which who are widely acknowledged for moving the needle forward on the study of narrative in their respective disciplines and beyond. **