I bought this book by accident. I was in a bookstore looking for another book, but ended up walking out with Wilberforce's enduring classic. I first encountered Wilberforce when reading a biography of the American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Since that time I have had the opportunity to read the life story of the English Great Emancipator himself. Wilberforce may have been small and frail in physical stature but his moral stature is that of a giant. For decades, Wilberforce, an MP in the British Parliament, labored toward two great ends: 1. To abolish the slave trade and slavery itself within Great Britain. 2. To change the decadent and decaying moral culture of his homeland. Real Christianity was written toward goal #2. On reading Real Christianity it is easy to see why it remained an English bestseller for 50 years! Wilberforce's writing is like the man himself. Compassionate, logical, persuasive, determined, humorous, and fair-minded.

I found this book inspirational in many ways. Belmonte is clearly deeply immersed in the material and knows his subject well. In fact the book is so packed with direct quotes that even Belmonte's own prose seems at times influenced by Victorian style and cadence. Belmonte's stated purpose was not to write the complete Wilberforce story, but rather a 're-introductory' biography (p.16). This may explain the absence of any criticism of his subject.

One aspect of Wilberforce's life that I had read about before and was gratified to learn more about here was how he came to recognize his calling. After his conversion to evangelical Christianity, he had begun to think of leaving politics and pursuing Christian work of some kind. But fortunately for the welfare of thousands, he received some timely advice to remain in politics and to serve Christ there. Who knows how much longer the slave trade would have persisted if Wilberforce had left politics to become a minister. To my mind this has tremendous relevance today as far too many young Christians seek work in the Christian sphere instead of pursuing a calling to serve Christ in the marketplace at large.

Another aspect of Wilberforce that I already had some familiarity with was that he saw his life's work as "two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade, and the reformation of manners [morals]." I knew that he saw success in the first, but what about the second? Belmonte naturally details how Wilberforce led the accomplishment of the first object. But of fresh interest to me was to learn to what degree he saw success in the second object of reforming the morals of his entire nation/society. How he did it and the perseverance with which he pursued both objects is truly an inspirational story. Belmonte builds a good case that Wilberforce bears significant responsibility for the peaceful golden age that characterized 19th century England. When one labors for spiritual reform, he needs to view his work with a generational timescale.

Why is Wilberforce not more well-known and admired? There is a very moving passage quoted on pages 204-5 from a Benjamin Hughes speech made a few years after Wilberforce's death that provides deep insight. "There is a charm that attracts the admiration of men to their destroyers [such as Napoleon]; a propensity to applaud those very acts that bring misery on the human race; and on the other hand to pass by unheeded, the placid and even tenor of the real benefactors of their species." How tragic it is that we humans ignore our philanthropists (those who love mankind), and adore our conquerors. Perhaps this biography will help us remember the true qualities of heroism.

In an age when celebrities are made through self-promotion, selfish excess and even 'reality' television centering on the lowest forms of human behavior, Hero for Humanity is a refreshing look at a man who by his faith, life and commitments, made his country, and indeed his time, better for him having lived.

Kevin Belmonte has been fascinated by William Wilberforce for years, and is determined to have the world rediscover this man, and hopefully follow his example to change their world. Wilberforce was an Englishman of noble birth who was born into a nominal Christian home in 1795. A few years after being elected to Parliament, and with a bright political future ahead of him, the Lord worked in his life to bring him to faith. Counseled by John Newton to continue in Parliament, Wilberforce set his sights on bettering English society. His aim was to abolish the African slave trade (and later slavery itself in England)and to have a 'reformation of manners', meaning moral change in society.

Unlike many modern "Christian" statesmen and politicans, Wilberforce did not need to couch all his ideas in Christian language, nor did he feel that he had to quote Scripture on the floor of Parliament to make his case, but he was clearly and consciously informed by Scriptural principles in all that he did. He had many opponents who ridiculed his faith and attacked his reforms because of it, but he resisted the temptation to 'demonize' his opponents (again, unlike many today) and instead sought to win them over by integrity, honesty, care, and by using his incredible gifts of oration and persuasion. His struggle to eliminate the slave trade and slavery took many years and had many setbacks and defeats. But in the end, he and his group of co-workers achieved their goals.

Belmonte also portrays Wilberforce as a man people just wanted to be around. He could carry on intelligent conversations on almost any topic. He was as home with intellectuals as he was with the working class man. His great gifts were balanced by a genuine humility, knowing that all he had was a gift from God, and all he accomplished was much less than he could have. Belmonte paints a portrait of Wilberforce as a man who you would just want to spend time with. I would urge you to do just that and read this book. It will inspire you to see how you can be used by God in greater ways in whatever sphere of life He has called you to.

Hero For Humanity is the biography of William Wilberforce, who was once called "The Washington of Humanity" by Italian statesmen and who was further praised by Abraham Lincoln and novelist Madame de Stael. Wilberforce was a man who devoted his life to abolishing Britain's slave trade, then struggled further to bring an end to slavery in the British colonies and elsewhere. His crusade, triumph, and great legacy are remembered in this impressive and very highly recommended biography by Kevin Belmonte.

Lean's story of William Wilberforce is a good introduction to a forgotten hero. A man who was raised with privilege and who was friends with the power brokers of Britain, staked his political career, as well as many friendships on the ending the slave trade and bringing morality into the political life of his country.

Although the book is not an extensive study, it does succinctly tell the tale of the end of the British slave trade. While the book discussed Wilberforce' conversion, it is not preachy, and seeks to discuss the conversion within the political context. This book is a fine edition to an understanding of the slave trade and its end.

This book is a wonderful, if cursory, introduction to a man who changed my life - Wilberforce. Lean's spiritual analysis is critical to understanding the man, but could go into greater depth.

I want to highly recommend the biography of one of my heroes of the faith, William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was an English citizen who in 1781 was elected to Parliament at the age of 21. While a Member of Parliament, he was converted to Christianity at the age of 24. Curious about whether he should remain in government now that he had come to Christ, he consulted with John Newton. Newton's reply to his question was, "The Lord has raised you up for the good of his church and for the good of the nation".
Wilberforce followed Newton's counsel, and over the next 18 months, formulated his goals: "God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners" (manners meaning the morals). As Lean writes, "The two were, of course, intimately related. On the one hand, it would take a profound moral reformation in leaders and people to obtain the suppression of the slave trade; on the other, only an unselfish battle like the abolition of the Trade would demonstrate to God and the world that such a moral reformation was genuine." (p. 47).
Wilberforce's goals of spiritual revival and the abolishing of the slave trade would not come easy. His bills against the slave trade were continually defeated, and his character was assaulted frequently by his opponents. Throughout the many battles he and his friends faced, Wilberforce remained committed both to the cause and to prayer for the cause, yet Wilberforce was also gracious and gentle towards his opponents. After many years and many defeats, in 1807, the bill abolishing the slave trade was finally passed!
Wilberforce also wrote a book called, Practical Christianity (1797) which God used to help convict many people in England of their sin and their need for Christ. Wilbeforce's book helped to bring about the "reformation of manners" that he sought in the form of the Second Great Awakening. This book was on the bestseller list in England for nearly 50 years!
I recommend Lean's biography on Wilberforce, both as an encouraging model of a Christian leader, and as a model for how societal change can occur through prayer and through Christian revival in society. Wilberforce saw that politics couldn't change society, but he knew that society could change politics. May we learn from his example!

Statesman and reformer William Wilberforce (1759-1833), best known for leading the 20-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, cared deeply about re-introducing classic works by Christian writers to new audiences. On one occasion he wrote of the "Practical Writings" of the celebrated 17th century divine Richard Baxter:

"With [Baxter's] controversial pieces I am little acquainted: but his Practical Writings, in four massy folios, are a treasury of Christian wisdom...[I]t would be a most valuable service to mankind to revise them, and perhaps to abridge them, so as to render them more suited to the taste of modern readers."

Editor Ellyn Sanna has done just this for Wilberforce's "Real Christianity." Her abridgements are judicious, and the revisions in language allow modern readers to derive the greatest benefit from Wilberforce's timeless call to embrace biblical Christianity and let it inform their lives. Thus, this new edition of "Real Christianity" does much to perpetuate a proper understanding and appreciation of Wilberforce's life and achievements. I have profited from, and will continue to profit from this valuable new edition. I regret, however, the omission of an index in this book, which would have been a helpful addition. Happily, this is the only detraction (and a small one at that) from this new edition.

In this third biographical study, Piper gives us three excellent sketches of men who persevered in ministry and righteousness in the face of incredible difficulty. John Newton, the converted slave-trader who penned Amazing Grace, is a model in "habitual tenderness" towards the hurting (most notably the manic-depressive poet William Cowpoer). Charles Simeon is lesser known, but proves to be a powerful demonstration of endurance in the face of almost unrelenting opposition and affliction. His endurance was rooted primarily in his high view of God and his low view of self (what a word for the self-esteem gurus filling America's pulpits today!!). Finally, William Wilberforce, the greatest instrument God used in the abolishment of slavery in Britain, is studied, along with the doctrine which gave him strength and moved him into action (the doctrine is justification by faith). This is a great book and very encouraging. Highly recommended.

My school, George Fox University, recommends ("hint": requires) that all students read this book upon enrollment. This book might have been a valuable contribution to the public's outlook on character in public figures, but is incredibly dry and dull in presentation. These historical figures were real people who deserve a bit...well...a life. This book was written for a great purpose, but will never achieve a lasting impact on many people due to the poor judgment of the author in his choice of style of presentation.

by a discouraged Freshman

In a time when our nation (United States) no longer produces true statesmen with character such as Washington, Mason, Henry, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, I'm saddened that Abraham Lincoln is seen by the editor as a man of character. It would seem, if one is to be a thinking evangelical, that the horrors that Lincoln permitted in the South would un-nerve the most honest of scholars. Here, Os Guines has done a serious disservice to the orthodox Christian community. Abraham Lincoln rejected the Virginia Peace (which included former president John Tyler) accord and Sen. Critendem's compromise for peace. Surely had Lincoln accepted these plans for peace, thousands of lives could have been saved. But most of all, the total war theory Lincoln allowed is the most offensive and repugnate to any thinking Christian. Women and children were implemented in Lincoln's so called war to save the Union. He jailed opponents of his position, threatened the Supreme Court justice Roger Taney with arrest for writing against his war plan. Lincoln usurped the Constitution of the United States by declaring War against seceded states in violation of Article I sec. 8 (this is solely congress's domain). A nation birthed in secession hardly has the right to chastise those who operated from the same principle i.e. the right to govern themselves and self-determination. Os, you should be ashamed of yourself for lack of scholarship in this arena. Particularly over such a sensitive subject as the American War Between the States (Civil War). A man (Lincoln) who waged an offensive war against those who defended their rights and family against an unjust invasion has no place in a book where character matters. Maybe Robert E. Lee or Joshua Chamberlain could have saved you the embarassment. And no, Lincoln's war was not over slavery. Men do not take bullets so 10 % can own slaves. Character counts, so does scholarship.

Did the reviewer who found this "dull" read the same book as I did??? This is a very well-crafted, nicely written, penetrating look at some important topics. I greatly enjoyed it.

Wilberforce is a monumental figure. Vaughan does a good job of portraying many of the qualities that made Wilberforce the moral giant that he was. However, I would have appreciated a more straightforward biography than a thematic approach based on Wilberforce's virtues and leadership skills.