The English Soul

Now available in paperback, The English Soul portrays the spirit and nature of English Christianity as it has developed over the last 1,400 years.

As the predominant faith of the people, Christianity has been the reflection, perhaps the embodiment, of the English soul. This fascinating new history argues that Christianity has been the anchoring and defining doctrine of England, while accepting respectfully that other powerful and significant faiths have also influenced the religious sensibility of this nation.

Peter Ackroyd surveys the lives and faith of the most important figures of English Christianity, from the Venerable Bede to C. S. Lewis, exploring the mysticism of Julian of Norwich and William Blake, the tumultuous years of the Reformation, the emergence of the English Bible, the evangelical tradition, including John Wesley, and the contemporary contest between tradition, revival and atheism. This is an essential, comprehensive and accessible survey of English Christianity.

'A lively and detailed book.' Daily Telegraph

'Takes in lives of a multitude of believers from Julian of Norwich, through John Donne and John Wesley, to GK Chesterton and CS Lewis, with numerous enjoyable diversions along the way.' Observer

'Colourful, opinionated and thought-provoking.' Peter Stanford, author of If These Stones Could Talk: The History of Christianity in Britain and Ireland through Twenty Buildings

'Through Ackroyd's calm gaze we see the leading characters and moments of Christianity.' Alec Ryrie, Professor of the History of Christianity, Durham University