Malcolm Muggeridge: A Biography

by Gregory Wolfe

Malcom Muggeridge (1903–1990), British writer and social critic, was one of the most brilliant controversialists and media personalities of his generation. Gregory Wolfe’s acclaimed biography draws on unpublished diaries, correspondence, interviews, and Muggeridge’s prolific writings to chronicle the long and turbulent life of this legendary figure. This edition, which marks the centenary of Muggeridge’s birth, makes Wolfe’s Muggeridge available in quality paperback for the first time in North America.

Genres: Biography, Christianity

490 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

Gregory Wolfe is a writer, teacher, editor, and publisher. In 1989 he founded Image—one of America’s leading literary journals, which he edited for thirty years. He was also the founding director of the Seattle Pacific University MFA in Creative Writing program, which he led for over a dozen years. He is currently editor of an indie, non-profit literary press, Slant Books. Wolfe’s writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, First Things, Commonweal, and America. He has served as a judge for the National Book Awards. His books include Beauty Will Save the World, Intruding Upon the Timeless, and The Operation of Grace. He is married to the novelist Suzanne M. Wolfe. They are the parents of four grown children and live in Richmond Beach, Washington.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography starts out well. Until the author leads up to Muggeridge’s Christian conversion and after. At this point the author shows his true colours in being in synch with Muggeridge’s Christian outlook. I don’t know if this section could have been adequately shortened, but another author who was willing to probe Muggeridge’s beliefs and outlook more critically, would possibly have added tension, and made this section more interesting.
I should have made a note before I took the book back to the library, but on page 333 the author made some religious/sociological arguments and statements were open to a critical assessment as to their validity. As I say, unfortunately I don’t have access to these comments, but they were certainly wide open to a critical challenging.
Muggeridge did make some valid arguments on various subjects throughout his life, and he was quite prophetic with some of his predictions and thoughts on political matters. But I feel that with maybe half of what he said , that his arguments and thoughts are open to a critical assessment of their validity. It’s because of my thoughts on the weakness of certain of his thoughts/ beliefs that I would not judge him as a judicious critical thinker, and therefore not displaying an overly high degree of intelligence and of critical faculties.

[David Swartzlander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t know much about Muggeridge when I began reading this book. It’s true that I know much more about him now, but I also know enough to determine that I’m unimpressed with the man and his beliefs.

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and well-written biography of a 20th Century giant.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcom Muggeridge (1903-1990), British writer and social critic.

A biography chronicling his journey from atheism/socialist to Christian. Unless your somewhat familiar with the reigning literary figures in England during the early part of the twentieth to mid-century you will find this book a boring read. A sample of his writing:


"Marx and Freud are the two great destroyers of Christian civilization, the first replacing the gospel of love by the gospel of hate, the other undermining the essential concept of human responsibility."

{My Life in Pictures, New York: William Morrow & Co., 1987, 94}


"Marx and Kierkegaard, the two key voices of the twentieth century. The curious thing is that though Marx purported to have an infallible scientific key to history, almost all his prophecies have failed to happen. On the other hand, Kierkegaard's forecasts have been fulfilled to a remarkable degree. Take for instance his profound sense that if men lost the isolation, the separateness, which awareness of the presence of God alone can give, they would soon find themselves irretrievably part of a collectivity with only mass communications to shape their hopes, formulate their values and arrange their thinking . . ."

{A Third Testament, New York: Ballantine Books, 1976, 104-106}


"The greatest artists, saints, philosophers and, until quite recent times, scientists, through the Christian centuries, . . . have all assumed that the New Testament promise of eternal life is valid, and that the great drama of the Incarnation which embodies it, is indeed the master-drama of our existence. To suppose that these distinguished believers were all credulous fools whose folly and credulity in holding such beliefs has now been finally exposed, would seem to me untenable; and anyway I'd rather be wrong with Dante and Shakespeare and Milton, with Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi, with Dr Johnson, Blake and Dostoevsky than right with Voltaire, Rousseau, the Huxleys, Herbert Spencer, H.G. Wells and Bernard Shaw."

{Vintage Muggeridge, ed. Geoffrey Barlow, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1985, 32-33}

If you like that, you might try giving this biography a read.

[Glesnertod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon finishing the book, I felt like I lost a friend.