Views & Reviews: Hymn Stories
For years I have written a weekly newspaper column on the subject of our traditional hymns. I am often asked where I get my information, or to recommend a good book on the subject.
Quite a few of the prominent hymn writers published autobiographies, or had their life’s stories told by others. However, most of these works are long out of print. Even secondary sources that drew upon them are often unavailable. Some of the books in my own library date from well over a century ago. Occasionally, you will come across recent reprints of these. Other times, they can be picked up in used book stores.
Of the more recent books, two of the best are by Kenneth Osbeck. Between them they provide us with over 200 stories of the more familiar hymns. They are: