Johann Sebastian Bach Had a Wife

by William J. Petersen

Book by Petersen, William J.

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really shallow, at least regarding marriage. There are some interesting things to know - mostly about the husbands - but it feels like an attempt to smoosh what he had into something inspirational about marriage. For example, he mentions Anna Magdalena Bach's love of linnets two or three times, but it seems to be based on knowing that she had one once that didn't work out, and a relative trying to buy her another one. That is not strong evidence. Even the author says that it is only when you reflect upon these relationships that you may learn something, which I suppose is a tacit admission that he doesn't know the point either, though he badly wants there to be one.

As it is, this was a used book I picked up on impulse in a shop from which the other impulse buys were also disappointing. There may be some meaning in that if I reflect on it.

[Randy Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice little book with the inventive idea of emphasizing the mate of five famous individuals from our Christian past: Johann Sebastian Bach, John Newton, George Mueller, Francis Schaeffer and (as a twist) Hannah Whitall Smith. Somehow the outrageously different levels of significance of these individuals doesn't harm the book's premise. Hannah Whitall Smith (beyond her obvious gender difference) suffers the most here in comparison (essentially known for one book which has its critics). One gets the feeling she would be a TV evangelist in this generation. She simple doesn't belong with this group. And then even worse, her and her "mate's" story suffers the most also, with their marriage falling apart among rumors and ego clashes. This placed next to George Mueller must be some form of sacrilegious book packaging. Mueller along with John Newton are two of the greatest men of faith and prayer in our heritage. And Bach certainly stands alone in the annals of Christian praise music. These three certainly are towering figures in which this idea works best. Francis Schaeffer comes last and his chapter is strangely incomplete even as a mini-biography, as is also George Mueller's actually. The Bach and Newton stories are the most successful here, with Petersen able to uncover the human side of Bach, with his constant problems with finances and church boards. And of course John Newton's story is the most colorful and adventuresome, in which his early life was filled with endless events in which it is fairly amazing that he survived with his life.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of 5 marriages: John and Polly Newton, Johann Sebastian and Magdalena Bach, George and Mary Muller, Hannah Whitall and Robert Pearsall Smith, and Francis and Edith Schaeffer. The first and last were of interest to me - John Newton being that despicable slave trader who, in a complete changeover, became a supporter of abolitionist William Wilberforce (and wrote the classic hymn "Amazing Grace"). I was curious to learn about the woman who married Newton even before he gave up the nastiness. Francis Schaeffer also, is a long-time favorite of mine, and I was amazed to discover that such an intellectual giant was brought up in a blue collar family and worked as a handyman, laying brick and spreading cement. The book is short, and that's the problem - it doesn't do justice to the lives or relationships it portrays. The book is a great idea not carried to it's full potential.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting back history including a glimpse (and just barely that) of their marriages.