{"product_id":"amazing-grace-the-story-of-americas-most-beloved-song-9780060002190","title":"Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song","description":"\u003cp\u003eBehind our most beloved hymn is a fascinating story spanning continents, cultures, and centuries. Inspired by the way \"Amazing Grace\" continues to change and grow in popularity, acclaimed music writer Steve Turner embarks on a journey to trace the life of the hymn, from Olney, England, where it was written by former slave trader John Newton, to tiny Plantain Island off the coast of Africa, where Newton was held captive for almost a year, to the Kentucky-Tennessee border and other parts of the South, where the hymn first began to spread.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Newton had been rescued from Africa by a merchant ship when, during an eleven-hour storm on the Atlantic, he converted to Christianity. Years later, as a minister, he wrote the hymn for use among his congregation. Through the nineteenth century, \"Amazing Grace\" appeared in more and more hymn books, and in the twentieth century it rose to a gospel and folk standard before exploding into pop music. It has been recorded by artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Tiny Tim, Al Green, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Chet Baker, and Destiny's Child. Amazing Grace closely examines this modern history of the hymn through personal interviews with recording artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e From John Newton's incredible life story to the hymn's role in American spirituality and culture, \u003cem\u003eAmazing Grace\u003c\/em\u003e is an illuminating, thorough, and unprecedented musical history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTurner, Steve:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eSteve Turner is the author of \u003cem\u003eTrouble Man: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye, A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles' Song, Hungry for Heaven: Rock and Roll and the Search for Redemption, Jack Kerouac: Angelheaded Hipster, \u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eVan Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now.\u003c\/em\u003e His articles have appeared in \u003cem\u003eRolling Stone, Mojo, Q, \u003c\/em\u003e and the\u003cem\u003e\u003cem\u003e London Times.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e He lives in London with his wife and two children.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ecco Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50459882848530,"sku":"9780060002190","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_4edf5b66-fa1e-45b4-b774-2bc9cc5e2191.jpg?v=1730011492","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/amazing-grace-the-story-of-americas-most-beloved-song-9780060002190","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}