Product Description

The Prince of War is an unauthorized biography of Billy Graham. The book represents the results of a five year investigation of the Graham behind the headlines and photo-ops, the preacher who urged presidents into battle, who slowed progress on racial integration and who worked the corridors of power to his own benefit. It is not the story of a man of peace.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1106638 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-21
• Released on: 2008-01-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 215 pages

Review
Bothwell documents how [Graham] blessed every war in which the United States has been involved in the last 60 years. -- Online Journal, Oct. 5, 2007

Bothwell's unauthorized biography ... derives its power from a careful analysis of the public life of Billy Graham. -- The Beat, Nov. 8, 2007

Marshals facts to demonstrate that Graham has [advocated] using the sword of religion to achieve both military and evangelical goals. -- Asheville Citizen-Times, Nov. 18, 2007

The Christian Right will soon be in counter attack mode...an insightful book that I am highly recommending. -- CounterPunch, Sept. 27, 2007

This book is important ... it provides amble documentation that shows what role the religious right has played in American politics... -- Media Mouse, Nov. 14, 2007

Customer Reviews

Billy Graham and civil rights
The title comes from Graham's support for every American war since Korea, but I found the civil rights material most interesting.

Cecil Bothwell portrays Graham as the political opposite of Martin Luther King and says the historical record does not support Graham's recent insistence that he was a friend of King's and of integration, pointing out that Graham "was absent from every civil rights march, rally or celebration over the years."

Sample paragraph: "Graham's frequent claims about King's approval are at odds with King's widely circulated exhortation from the Birmingham jail, in which he categorically condemned the position of clergymen who opposed civil disobedience, took them to task for obeying unjust laws, and spoke at eloquent length about the necessity for those of faith to demand change. He could have been directly rebutting Graham when he wrote, `You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations.' "

Bothwell notes that when King was killed 200,000 people attended the funeral. A long list of notables from every field came, the Academy Awards were postponed, and the start of major league baseball was delayed, but Billy Graham did not attend.

I found The Prince of War to be well worth reading.

A profound revelation of our resident prophet
This is an extensive account of Graham's influence on many President's attitudes and/or actions and has been needed for a long time. It is particularly appropriate in a time when so many mainstream religions seek to influence government actions. They have lost sight of the importance our constitutional provision--separation of Church and State. It details many incidents of the use of Graham's presence to provide endorsement for unethical decisions.

Joseph Haun
Asheville, NC USA