Book Review – Disturber of the Peace by William Manchester

I happen to find myself reading H. L. Machen’s writing on the obituary of J. Greshem Machen (no relation) and knew enough about both men that I thought it would be interesting to read biographies of these very opposite and similar men back to back. Since I knew less about H. L. Machen, I figured I’d start with him.

This is a part of what H. L. said about J. Greshem, “The Rev. J. Gresham Machen, D. D., who died out in North Dakota on New Year’s Day, got, on the whole, a bad press while he lived, and even his obituaries did much less than justice to him. To newspaper reporters, as to other antinomians, a combat between Christians over a matter of dogma is essentially a comic affair, and in consequence Dr. Machen’s heroic struggles to save Calvinism in the Republic were usually depicted in ribald, or, at all events, in somewhat skeptical terms. The generality of readers, I suppose, gathered thereby the notion that he was simply another Fundamentalist on the order of William Jennings Bryan and the simian faithful of Appalachia. But he was actually a man of great learning, and, what is more, of sharp intelligence.”

Reading this biography of H. L. Machen (who will, from now on, be referred to as Machen) this is odd high praise from someone so against Christianity but also on point with someone so intelligent but always bucking the trend of his day. This review is going to be more about the book than the man but with biographies the divorce between the two is a bit harder.

The style of this biography is probably the quintessential approach of what you want in a biography but was probably a bit long in the tooth in areas. As Machen was a press man, the access to his writings are way more available than someone not so much in the spotlight. The biography does what should be done in the beginning in that it starts with a sprint from the family history, moves into a fast jog in the mother and father and upbringing, and slow down to a jaunt through the subject’s life while taking a stroll through some of the bigger points in time. The use of linear storytelling with quotes from Machen’s writings or writings about Machen give you the perfect insight into who Machen was both publically and privately. Although the author doesn’t hold back in showing Machen’s faults, both what Machen would agree about himself and what having an outside perspective allows one to see.

The biggest negative in this book is the section on the Scope’s Monkey Trial. It’s clear Machen played a key role in it and is known for being a part of it. However, during this section, Machen almost disappears and becomes more of an eyewitness before leaving the scene for several pages. If you wanted to know more about the Scope’s Trial, I guess the author figured the reader would want a lot more detail. Because there is so much writing from and about Machen, there are times when the book tends to slow down. The author does a good job of continuing to reveal certain character traits of Machen throughout his life. There is also enough detail to inform you about what certain ideologies, historical events, or ideas that may not be so well known.

I was really impressed with this book and I see in Machen’s commentary on J. Greshem Machen’s obituary a good many things of this man who bucked the trend of his day but whistle a little too often passed graveyards when it came to Christianity. He was a rebel for his day that was needed and someone that modern-day authors and commentators would attempt to embody but that intellectual typification is lost to us in time and with technology. The Hunter S. Thompson before everyone wanted their own Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Here is a very good book about a man worth remembering and worth learning about and worth learning from – both in demeanor and in warning.