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Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn
A fascinating journey through the history of "Amazing Grace," one of the transatlantic world's most popular hymns and a powerful anthem for humanity.
Sung in moments of personal isolation or on state occasions watched by millions, "Amazing Grace" has become an unparalleled anthem for humankind. How did a simple Christian hymn, written in a remote English vicarage in 1772, come to hold such sway over millions in all corners of the modern world? With this short, engaging cultural history, James Walvin offers an explanation.
The greatest paradox is that the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, was a former Liverpool slave captain. Walvin follows the song across the Atlantic to track how it became part of the cause for abolition and galvanized decades of movements and trends in American history and popular culture. By the end of the twentieth century, "Amazing Grace" was performed in Soweto and Vanuatu, by political dissidents in China, and by Kikuyu women in Kenya. No other song has acquired such global resonance as "Amazing Grace," and its fascinating history is well worth knowing.
Sung in moments of personal isolation or on state occasions watched by millions, "Amazing Grace" has become an unparalleled anthem for humankind. How did a simple Christian hymn, written in a remote English vicarage in 1772, come to hold such sway over millions in all corners of the modern world? With this short, engaging cultural history, James Walvin offers an explanation.
The greatest paradox is that the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, was a former Liverpool slave captain. Walvin follows the song across the Atlantic to track how it became part of the cause for abolition and galvanized decades of movements and trends in American history and popular culture. By the end of the twentieth century, "Amazing Grace" was performed in Soweto and Vanuatu, by political dissidents in China, and by Kikuyu women in Kenya. No other song has acquired such global resonance as "Amazing Grace," and its fascinating history is well worth knowing.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published October 31, 2023
About the author
James Walvin
93 books28 followersJames Walvin taught for many years at the University of York where he is now Professor of History Emeritus. He also held visiting positions in the Caribbean, the U.S.A. and Australia. He won the prestigious Martin Luther King Memorial Prize for his book Black and White, and has published widely on the history of slavery and the slave trade. His book The People's Game was a pioneering study of the history of football and remains in print thirty years after its first publication.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 9, 2024
The hymn “Amazing Grace” is very popular. It has acquired a secular status over the last few decades. In this fascinating study, James Walvin talks about the unique history of this hymn. Amazing Grace was originally composed by John Newton in Olney, an English village, in 1772.
John Newton was a former captain of a slave ship. It was originally written as a personal reflection of change. Ironically, it became most popular among the African-American community in the US in the 19th century, who were transported across the Atlantic to live in harsh conditions by people like John Newton. After giving up the career as a slave ship captain, John Newton became a pastor and advocated against slavery. But his creation - among the many hymns that he wrote - grew bigger in terms of its reach and fame.
How did this happen? This is the question answered by the book. The author talks about the hope and relief given by communal singing sessions to the enslaved people of the US. Singing became the cornerstone of how Christianity saw a revival in the US, cutting across different sections of the society. And as singing spread, so did the hymn. But it is still sung to this day, as it transcended the religious confines to emerge in a more secular atmosphere.
The simplicity of the song - both in terms of lyrics and what is required for performance - is one reason for its enduring popularity. But equally important were the changes happening in the larger society - the civil rights movement, development of the music industry and the interests driving it, etc. The book brings together these varying strands to give a comprehensive history of the Amazing Grace.
John Newton was a former captain of a slave ship. It was originally written as a personal reflection of change. Ironically, it became most popular among the African-American community in the US in the 19th century, who were transported across the Atlantic to live in harsh conditions by people like John Newton. After giving up the career as a slave ship captain, John Newton became a pastor and advocated against slavery. But his creation - among the many hymns that he wrote - grew bigger in terms of its reach and fame.
How did this happen? This is the question answered by the book. The author talks about the hope and relief given by communal singing sessions to the enslaved people of the US. Singing became the cornerstone of how Christianity saw a revival in the US, cutting across different sections of the society. And as singing spread, so did the hymn. But it is still sung to this day, as it transcended the religious confines to emerge in a more secular atmosphere.
The simplicity of the song - both in terms of lyrics and what is required for performance - is one reason for its enduring popularity. But equally important were the changes happening in the larger society - the civil rights movement, development of the music industry and the interests driving it, etc. The book brings together these varying strands to give a comprehensive history of the Amazing Grace.
February 7, 2026
I learned about this book from NPR journalist Samantha Balaban's interview with James Walvin in 2023, and I had a lot to say (write) about it even then. I was led to include Aretha Franklin's version -- which I had not known about -- in both my world music and Detroit classes.
And in the past couple of weeks, I finally read this as an audiobook. Like me, Walvin is not primarily a scholar of music. His work on the history of abolition kept leading him back to this song, however, and he finally decided he needed to learn more. He has written a compelling account of both the origins and the importance of this song. He is fascinated by the fact that it is so widely appreciated in so many different forms, and much of the book is an explanation of how this came to be.
Even the audio book is just narrative -- the production makes no efforts to include the song itself. It would probably have been futile to do so, but I think listeners will be led to queue up some of the versions he mentions -- especially those of Aretha Franklin and a certain former US president. In addition, I recommend the LeAnn Rimes version -- astounding for a singer who was only 15 years old the first time she recorded it.
Just a day after finishing this book, I was watching a show that included a funeral scene. And there it was: a graveside instrumental performance of John Newton's famous hymn, though not -- as Walvin reminds us -- in a version the old sinner would have recognized.
And in the past couple of weeks, I finally read this as an audiobook. Like me, Walvin is not primarily a scholar of music. His work on the history of abolition kept leading him back to this song, however, and he finally decided he needed to learn more. He has written a compelling account of both the origins and the importance of this song. He is fascinated by the fact that it is so widely appreciated in so many different forms, and much of the book is an explanation of how this came to be.
Even the audio book is just narrative -- the production makes no efforts to include the song itself. It would probably have been futile to do so, but I think listeners will be led to queue up some of the versions he mentions -- especially those of Aretha Franklin and a certain former US president. In addition, I recommend the LeAnn Rimes version -- astounding for a singer who was only 15 years old the first time she recorded it.
Just a day after finishing this book, I was watching a show that included a funeral scene. And there it was: a graveside instrumental performance of John Newton's famous hymn, though not -- as Walvin reminds us -- in a version the old sinner would have recognized.
May 23, 2024
How Sweet the Story
James Walvin, professor of history at the University of York (England), has authored a very readable and interesting history of America’s (and possibly my) favorite hymn in his book “Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn.”
Walvin book-ends the history with the compelling story of President Obama’s emotional and unexpected singing of the hymn, earnestly joined by an overflow crowd, at the memorial service for nine African American Christians murdered by a white supremacist during a Bible study at their church in Charleston, SC. Fittingly, the hymn, as Walvin shows, has long been embraced by blacks in America, in slavery and in the struggle for equal rights. And, also fittingly, it’s theme of redemption and grace was epitomized by both the
Bible study group that fateful evening and by the congregation in the aftermath. It’s an extraordinary event in American history, symbolized by a powerful hymn.
“Amazing Grace” takes us from its unlikely beginning, with lyrics authored famously by former slave ship captain turned committed Christian pastor and abolitionist, John Newton, through its many musical renditions, sacred and, sometimes unfortunately, secular. We learn that today’s familiar melody dates to 1835, quite some time after the first published version in 1779, but the powerful words had and have been tied to other music. We learn of influential artists, styles of singing, and historic moments when “Amazing Grace” satisfied the longings of its listeners. Truly there are few, if any, hymns that have been as impactful as “Amazing Grace” on American culture, and increasingly on other cultures. Grace is indeed amazing and so is its most effective hymn.
James Walvin has done a great service for anyone whose soul is stirred by “Amazing Grace” and that must be nearly everyone who has heard it.
James Walvin, professor of history at the University of York (England), has authored a very readable and interesting history of America’s (and possibly my) favorite hymn in his book “Amazing Grace: A Cultural History of the Beloved Hymn.”
Walvin book-ends the history with the compelling story of President Obama’s emotional and unexpected singing of the hymn, earnestly joined by an overflow crowd, at the memorial service for nine African American Christians murdered by a white supremacist during a Bible study at their church in Charleston, SC. Fittingly, the hymn, as Walvin shows, has long been embraced by blacks in America, in slavery and in the struggle for equal rights. And, also fittingly, it’s theme of redemption and grace was epitomized by both the
Bible study group that fateful evening and by the congregation in the aftermath. It’s an extraordinary event in American history, symbolized by a powerful hymn.
“Amazing Grace” takes us from its unlikely beginning, with lyrics authored famously by former slave ship captain turned committed Christian pastor and abolitionist, John Newton, through its many musical renditions, sacred and, sometimes unfortunately, secular. We learn that today’s familiar melody dates to 1835, quite some time after the first published version in 1779, but the powerful words had and have been tied to other music. We learn of influential artists, styles of singing, and historic moments when “Amazing Grace” satisfied the longings of its listeners. Truly there are few, if any, hymns that have been as impactful as “Amazing Grace” on American culture, and increasingly on other cultures. Grace is indeed amazing and so is its most effective hymn.
James Walvin has done a great service for anyone whose soul is stirred by “Amazing Grace” and that must be nearly everyone who has heard it.
March 2, 2024
“Amazing Grace,” the beloved hymn, was written by a former slave-ship’s captain, John Newton, in 1772, and included in his collaborative hymnal, written with the poet William Cowper, that was published in “The Olney Hymns” in 1779 … this cultural history traces the hymn through the centuries up to its use during the COVID Pandemic … long a favorite of mine, it’s heartening to revel in its popularity … truly amazing …
by
William Cowper and
John Newton
by
William Cowper and
John Newton
July 9, 2025
This meticulously researched study confirms that the worldwide popularity of “Amazing Grace” owes more to the commercialism of the music industry than to the hymn’s intrinsic merit. Walvin is somewhat repetitive in making various points. One area where the book leaves me wanting is in its discussion of the religious meaning of the hymn.
Want to Read
December 9, 2023Third place books
July 21, 2024
Having known and heard the hymn for a long time, I knew very little of its history and how it became popular. Short and interesting book.
December 6, 2024
Really liked the first half
The last couple chapters were a bit repetitive
The last couple chapters were a bit repetitive
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews