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larkspire's review
3.0
Along with the two titular lectures, this book includes a handful of other essays by the author, but the bulk of its content is made up of his reviews of other books. Acton wrote excellently and his essays are always full of insights, though I must admit that a lot was lost on me because his essays on history and Christianity assume a lot of background knowledge of both Christian and European history which I do not have.
As one might expect, some of Acton's views on freedom are a little out of date today (such as the "necessity" of slavery - though he calls it deplorable with the same breath), but there's still plenty to be learnt here. The book reviews were probably more relevant when this book was first published, but history scholars might get something out of them.
I'd recommend the titular essays to just about anyone who finds the title "The History of Freedom" appealing (as long as they can think critically about what Acton has to say). Scholars who are interested in (and have a thorough background knowledge of) Christian history will gain more from the remainder of the book than I did.
As one might expect, some of Acton's views on freedom are a little out of date today (such as the "necessity" of slavery - though he calls it deplorable with the same breath), but there's still plenty to be learnt here. The book reviews were probably more relevant when this book was first published, but history scholars might get something out of them.
I'd recommend the titular essays to just about anyone who finds the title "The History of Freedom" appealing (as long as they can think critically about what Acton has to say). Scholars who are interested in (and have a thorough background knowledge of) Christian history will gain more from the remainder of the book than I did.
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