A brilliant bravo to a task well done. G. Marshall & D. Poling have captured succinctly the life of the last of the 'Enlightenment' minds. Albert Schweitzer was true to the principles of reason, naturalism and thought. He took these principles and undauntedly applied them to his religion and his culture. Albert Schweitzer was a critic of Christianity and modern civilization and this book captures Albert Schweitzer, "the critic".

In the world and church around him he saw conformity and the lack of individual reflection. This is a book about a nonconformism, a brilliant theologian/philosopher and a humanitarian genius.

Unlike other biographies of Schweitzer I have read, these authors write with a fluid, engaging style, pulling you closer to the man that they knew and profiled. Albert Schweitzer lived 90 years and the length of his life is a challenge that biographers must face. They must capture the individualistic spirit of Albert Schweitzer youth, the brilliance of his middle years and the tenacity of his old age.

Albert Schweitzer's Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 spoke of his sacrificial work in Africa, his vital practical philosophy of life, his call to clear comprehension of the historic Jesus that Christianity needs to embrace, his musical brilliance, his compassion for the animal kingdom and his love of healing. Yet, to brush stroke with ink a portrait of this unbelievable figure is a demanding undertaking and Marshall and Poling have done it right, and they did right to one of the greatest personalities of the twentieth century. Strongly recommended. 4.5 Stars.

I'm an avid fiction reader. "Ice Station Zebra" and "HMS Ulysess" are some of the best novels I've read regarding the sea. Occasionally I'll delve into adventurous nonfiction; I found "The Perfect Storm," "Into Thin Air," and "In the Heart of the Sea" to be modern classics.

"Sea of Glory" is a story worth telling and I can't help but recommend it, however...I think the publisher makes a big mistake. "Sea of Glory" is a nonfiction account marketed as a novel. This is misleading to big fiction readers like myself. This is not well-constructed fiction: it spends four separate chapters introducing the main characters in a nonfictional format, then spends the rest of the book trying to be a novel. "Sea of Glory," like "In the Heart of the Sea," could have been told in a reconstructive nonfiction manner that allows some liberty on the author's part while maintaining the intregrity and suspense of events that actually happened.

Yes, this story is well-paced and well-written. I'd recommend it for its content alone. It does, however, fail to live up the best in either fiction or nonfiction genres. This book is full of inconsistencies...The cover art is top-notch, but the words along the bottom have typos (should be "WWII", not "WW II"..."the story of four chaplains", not "the story of the four chaplains"). With better planning on the publisher's end, I think this book could have been elevated to a higher level. As it stands, "Sea of Glory" is a moving account of Godly men in the midst of combat. In light of our present struggles as a nation, this book should be an encouragement and a challenge to believers everywhere.

There are inaccuracies in some of the above criticisms...
like for instance the customer who stated that the words on the cover, "...story of the four chaplains" was a typo and should have been, "...story of four chaplains." This is completely inaccurate as the gentlemen in mention are icons known as "THE Four Chaplains." The customer's complete misinformation stated as 'fact' in [their] review makes me wonder about the validity of [their] other comments.

My suggestion, read the book for the "true story" within -- whether it feels like narrative non-fiction, or novel-style non-fiction is up to you to like or dislike; but the story is well and passionately presented by an author to whom the story obviously has precious meaning.

The book is lovely because the story is lovely. There's just no losing that. Well done.

I found this book made me realize just how much others have sacrificed for our freedom. The characters were real to me...much more so than going to a movie where it's like watching the news when bad things happen. We're anesthesized to the horror happening to others. I spent the day reading (such luxury!) and felt I had spent the day on the Dorchester. Knowing beforehand what the book was about initially disappointed me, yet I read on to see how the authors would handle this true story. I was glad I did. The account was very real to me. The sacrifice of the four chaplains was beyond reason...so far so that faith was in the forefront. If you are serious about history, this is a must read.

There is no end to books about O'Keeffe and to the interest in her life and work. This book, howver, has an unusual story to tell. O'Keeffe who had stopped painting in 1971 because of loss of most of her vision never lost her desire to paint. In 1975 she decided to do something about it by creating new paintings.In order to do this she had to use someone else to paint her ideas on the canvass but under her direction. John Poling was a young man doing odd jobs for O'Keeffe when he was called upon to be a substitute artist. The ethical questions that arose when O'Keeffe passed those works off as her own original work caused a furor when a local newspaper published the story. Nearly 25 years later,Poling tells his side of the story. Whatever readers may decide about the ethics,this book gives a first hand look at O'Keeffe's daily life in her later years. It also offers additional insight into the role of Juan Hamilton in her life. The original newspaper articles that broke the story in 1980 are reproduced in two appendices. There is a bibliography and an index. There a photographs of O'Keeffe and related subject matter. There are no photos of the paintings because Poling was denied permission to use them.Now a professor at St. Olaf College, Poling still regards O'Keeffe as a mentor and an importnt influence in his life.

Reviewed in ENCHANTMENT,Book Chat with Marcia, Mutt, Oct. 1999 (120,000 circulation)

"Artists are notorously circumspect about the origins of their work. It is difficult enough to describe to oneself the mysterious process by which a poem or painting comes into existence, let alone to an apprentice or public audience. How fortunate we are, then, to have John Poling's account of painting with Georgia O'Keeffe. Here is a portrait of an aging artist discovering ways to create even after she had lost her sight. Painting, she said, is "like the thread that runs through ..all other things that make one's life." And for one magical season John Poling helped her to find that thread again".

Christopher Merrill, College of the Holy Cross; Book Review Editor, EL PALACIO.

I've not read everything about O'Keeffe but Poling's easy read, page-turning narrative certainly gives perspective to this remarkable lady. His very personal association, that of "servant", student, errand boy, you name it, gives a warmth to her that has not always been revealed. Clearly, the author's good sense of humor, his openness with her and the quick retorts to her candid, frank observations cannot help but bring smiles to readers. The chronology here is a very nice contribution to the history of Georgia O'Keeffe. Douglas C. Billian, Publisher, ART & ANTIQUES

A fascinating story of the intertwining of art and life, of a remakable woman, of his painting with her for a season and finding his own life transformed...he offers helpful insights into O'Keeffe's aesthetic world and beautifully evokes the personal inspiration he found in O'Keeffe's life and work.

John J. Compton Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Vanderbilt University.

Obviously, one of my first priorities, when I went to interview John Poling, was to try and determine whether he was seeking some kind of personal gain by going public with his story. We spent, I would guess, at least 10 or 12 hours, in a series of meetings. I backtracked and criss-crossed over the facts again and again, and he remained absolutely consistent, down to the smallest detail. By the end, I believed that his motive was one of ethics, and nothing more.

I found it quite a beautiful story--the relationship between this young maintenance man and the aging artist. I enjoyed the writing.

Hope Aldrich, Staff writer and later Publisher of the SANTA FE REPORTER.

It's hard to imagine anyone who admires Georgia O'Keeffe's art(and who doesn't)not being fascinated by these recollections of the philosopher/handyman who helped paint both her house and her canvases. John Poling reveals insights into the character of the artist herself and of Juan Hamilton, her controversial agent/companion.

Tony Hillerman

I found this book a fascinating confluence of ideas and life themes that allow O'Keeffe fans insights into her personal life and her approach towards artistic expression -- as a well as the real-life story of a young man's coming of age in search of his place in this universe.

It is filled with observations and insights that allow the reader to consider what it would be like to work with one of Americas' greatest artists - and to appreciate the solitary and disciplined life-style that she led -- especially in her final years.

I also found this story to be very sad yet poignant. O'Keeffe was obviously manipulated by her personal affairs manager, Juan Hamilton, and apparently fearful of his reaction to the close relationship that blossomed between Mr. Poling and Ms. O'Keeffe one summer while he was away in New York City.

I have also know the author as a personal friend since childhood and find this book to be true to his nature as an individual - insightful and honest. I would recommend it highly!