Memoirs of the Late Rev. John Wesley, A.M.: Volume 1

This three-volume account of the life of John Wesley (1703-91) was published in the year of his death. Written by John Hampson (c.1753-1819), a Church of England clergyman and former Methodist preacher, the work also contains a thorough review of Wesley's writings and a history of Methodism. Hampson's excellent overview of contemporary assessments of the preacher is more balanced than John Whitehead's two-volume Life of the Rev. John Wesley (1793-6), which has also been reissued in this series. Volume 1 explores Wesley's lineage and early life, including his journey to America in 1735 and his conversion in 1738. This volume also contains short chapters on his brothers Samuel and Charles. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the work remains important for its informed appraisal of this religious movement and its founder.