This is simply the best and most completely researched volume on hymns, their music and text. The author has done a masterful job of writing stories about the words and music. You get a sense of the people, personalities and their times. This gives a depth and richness to the hymns. This book also honors the music as well as the poetry. Music is presented in its entirety. The author also has given quotations and poetry at the end of each chapter. This is the reference if you are interested in stories about hymns.

I tend to be conservative in my reviews, but Mr. Osbeck rightly deserves the highest marks for his ability to bring a meaningful story to each of the wonderful hymns many have loved for so long. Behind each of the hymns there lies some fascinating information. While some might see merely an odd assortment of facts, Ken Osbeck has clearly used his gift as an author to mold these facts into a wonderful story. These stories are not fiction--- they are all true because behind each hymn lies the story of it's authors: the lyricist (who wrote the words) and the composer (the writer of the musical melody). I would urge the reader to purchase not only this, but the other books about hymns written by Kenneth Osbeck. Truly, this man has answered a calling: to shed light on the reasons why hymnwriters wrote those deeply spiritual and personally meaningful words. Today, in an age where traditional hymns are being used less and less, I personally believe this book is even more important: because the problems and situations hymnwriters faced were really not very different than our own. And while I enjoy the new trend in "Worship and Praise" music, I still enjoy performing the old hymns and reading the stories behind them. Bottom line? Very highly recommended.