This is an altogether interesting and valuable book. The subject, Philip Strong, was prominent and interesting in the context of his times. Following a reasonably standard upbringing and education for a middle-class Englishman, a supportive family, a good education at school and Cambridge followed by three distinctive clerical appointments in inner city and disadvantaged suburbs and then a summons to be a missionary bishop in far flung Papua, Strong brought a powerful devotional life and mission shaped by a deep commitment to the Anglo-Catholicism of his day. He was called to lead and govern and this showed in a persistent authoritarian approach to others and to decision-making in the mission. Even in still colonial Papua this caused difficulties. It lay behind his instruction to mission staff to stay at their posts even as the Japanese Imperial Army was invading the country. The result was the murder of twelve women and men of the mission staff, who have ever since been celebrated as the New Guinea martyrs. His pioneering work laid the foundations for the Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea and also to the formation of an elected government in 1963. He became archbishop of Brisbane, where his authoritarian approach caused significant problems. His manifest Christian commitment and deep piety, however, could not be gainsaid and commended him to many. This biography is based on wide and detailed study of many scattered sources and is carried along with a light style and regular interpretative comment. Holland is very aware of Strong's weaknesses which at times were as significant as his strengths. He was often out of touch with social changes in Brisbane, and often did not see the direction of events as they unfolded in both Papua and Brisbane. According to Holland Strong's key attributes were duty, loyalty, obedience, honour and self-sacrifice. ‘He sat light to the accumulation of wealth and he eschewed self-seeking. God came first, others second and self last’ (p. viii). As Holland says, this makes him something of an icon of a past age, though he applauds the personal virtues and piety that made him who he was. To forget such people and what inspired them is to lose something vital. But the way this commitment was understood by Strong is very much in terms of the values and practices of his social and cultural background. Because he stands at a great turning point in culture and social understanding Strong alerts us to the fact that when Christians seek to live in the terms of their own culture or society they are driven into the challenge of being faithful to the eternal kingdom of Christ in the particularities of their times. It is a fine example of the old riddles of historical particularity that an historically located religion like Christianity must always be facing. Strong and this excellent biography illustrate this very well.