Portrait in Grey: Short History of the Quakers

c.1, c.2, c.3

I've read one other of Punshon's books and find him a solid writer, very readable and careful with his details. Quaker history is the history of the English Civil War, the influence of William Penn's Quaker colony on the new American government, and the rise and fall of the various versions of European and American Protestantism. With a reputation for dedication, skill in peace negotiations, and fair dealings, Quakers have exercised far more influence in international affairs than their numbers (only about 300,000 worldwide) would suggest. Punshon does an admirable job of condensing over 350 years into less than 300 pages. A reader who is interested in learning about the background of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will find Punshon's version accessible and reasonably complete. It is not a thrilling read, but adept enough to hold the interest of someone who is interested in its topic. ( )

Bravo for situating the history of the Quakers in the broader context of philosophy, politics, and religion of the 18C, 19C, 20C, and taking a quick shot at what the 21C may look like for Quakers! It feels good to look back in history and to look outward from Quakerism itself. Hooray for context. ( )