Synopses & Reviews
Review
"This ambitious and overwritten account seeks to inspire 'the sympathetic smile of critical understanding,' and Fox does succeed in conveying the extraordinary richness and vitality of Niebuhr's career. But the depth and profundity of Niebuhr's thought is more often invoked than explored or analyzed; the reader is frequently left with potted summaries (about four pages are devoted to the substance of The Nature and Destiny of Man), paraphrases of contemporary reviews, and brisk retrospective judgments. Still, the account of the circumstances surrounding each book and phase of Niebuhr's life is lively and comprehensive—in the 'story' aspect of biography Fox excels. His larger conclusion, that Niebuhr lived out 'a pattern of paradoxes and a sequence of ironies,' ultimately seems a bit facile: but perhaps a figure as varied and fascinating as Niebuhr defies summary characterization." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 326-336) and index.