Brilliant Overreaching (Bare Ruined Choirs, by Garry Wills)

Bare Ruined Choirs: Doubt, Prophecy, and Radical Religion By Garry Wills Doubleday, 272 pp., $7.95

Some eight years ago, in 1964, Garry Wills wrote a perceptive and well-documented book examining the proper scope and limits of papal authority. In his best manner, he concentrated on the subject in hand, resisting all temptations to expand his reflections on a cosmic scale and take all society and culture for his province. But that is precisely what he attempts to do in the present volume; and, as he expands the scope of his ambitious vision, he loses in precision and authority. And that is too bad, for, at his best, Garry Wills is capable of really fine reportage and relevant analysis.

WH

About the Author

Will Herberg

Featured Tags

Bare Ruined Choirs: Doubt, Prophecy, and Radical Religion By Garry Wills Doubleday, 272 pp., $7.95

Some eight years ago, in 1964, Garry Wills wrote a perceptive and well-documented book examining the proper scope and limits of papal authority. In his best manner, he concentrated on the subject in hand, resisting all temptations to expand his reflections on a cosmic scale and take all society and culture for his province. But that is precisely what he attempts to do in the present volume; and, as he expands the scope of his ambitious vision, he loses in precision and authority. And that is too bad, for, at his best, Garry Wills is capable of really fine reportage and relevant analysis.