Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn by James Walvin University of California Press, 216 pages, £16.99
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When President Obama sang ‘Amazing Grace’ at the funeral service for the victims of the racist Charleston church shooting in 2015, it was, writes James Walvin, “one of the most electrifying moments in modern presidential history: a moment of brilliant and calculated audacity”. It was also a remarkable episode in the history of a “simple Christian hymn” that travelled from a peaceful corner of rural England in the 18th century to became a global anthem for humankind, healing and hope. It’s been recorded thousands of times, with versions by Judy Collins and Aretha Franklin selling in their millions, while the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards’ release became one of the bestselling instrumental singles of all time in Britain.
In this fascinating, concise and at times moving cultural history, Walvin deftly traces the evolution of ‘Amazing Grace’ against an ever-changing backdrop of technological and social change across the past 250 years. It’s a sweeping tale, with each twist and turn underpinned by historical context.