In the trenches with Jesus and Marx : Harry F. Ward and the struggle for social justice /

English-born Harry Ward immigrated to the US in 1891, where he worked as a Methodist lay preacher and eventually became a professor of ethics at Union Theological Seminary. His career and publications revolved around Christian socialism and efforts on behalf of the underprivileged. A prolific writer and speaker, and a world traveler (he met Gandhi in India and lived in the Soviet Union for a full year), Ward was almost obsessed in his efforts to show that Marx and Jesus were fellow travelers and compatible in their thinking. Even at 80 Ward could bring audiences to their feet with his charismatic speaking. His commitments set him on a collision course with the FBI and McCarthyism. The FBI monitored his movements and speeches from the early 1940s to 1963. Ward was perhaps blind to the errors of Stalinism, but he clearly exposed the systemic illness of capitalism. Vividly current, this posthumously published biography cries out for freedom of speech and open debate in every age and exposes a dark moment in American political history. Duke (formerly, William Jewell College) has written an excellent book based on all the important sources, including private letters and FBI files. For the present day, this is a must-read. Superior notes, references, and index. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels. G. H. Shriver emeritus, Georgia Southern University