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Strange Glory: A Life Of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2014)

by Charles Marsh(Favorite Author)

4.15 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0307269817 (ISBN13: 9780307269812)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf

review 1: I have been fascinated with Bonhoeffer. In this book, I learned of a person, flawed, yet struggling. There were times that I had to struggle to keep reading, but on the whole I am very glad I stuck with the reading. It was indeed interesting to see the human side of Bonhoeffer (and others). Resolving/ handling the question of how to stay true to a homeland, how to manage to avoid conscription, what to do about Hitler and yet obey the dictates of conscience. Very interesting.
review 2: A magnificent, balanced, and very readable account of the too short life of this great Lutheran theologian, pastor, and member of the conspiracies to bring down the foul Nazi regime. Eberhard Bethge's biography is of course in many ways definitive but it is very long and exce... moreptionally tedious; Eric Metaxas recently made an effort to shovel Bonhoeffer into the right wing that was unfortunately well received amongst the usual suspects. Marsh instead lays out the Bonhoeffer revealed through his writings; in some ways a rather spoiled young man but a deeply thoughtful and loving one. Following his growth of character through his education, his visits to Italy, America, and England, and his discourse with his friends and teachers, Marsh allows us to understand and track Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Marsh is the first to come out and say what many have suspected; that Bonhoeffer loved his friend Bethge deeply, in a way he never loved a woman - he seems to have been unable to form any deep emotional attachments with women, and his late relationship with the (very) young Maria von Wedemeyer seems more like a dalliance than anything that would have ever led to a stable marriage. Undoubtedly there was no physical aspect to Bonhoeffer's relationship with Bethge, but just as obviously it was a deep and true love on Bonhoeffer's part. The book is very well illustrated with a selection of photos that are not common, and should guide readers onward into the contemplation of Bonhoeffer's own writings, and sadness for his too short life, and what we missed by losing this great and good man to the Nazis. less

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