This volume consists of six papers presented at the 29th annual meeting of the Charles Wesley Society in August 2018. The editor in an introduction provides a helpful overview of the essays; in addition, each essay begins with an abstract by the author. Another strength of this collection is that it has an excellent index.

The essays are a significant contribution to the study of Charles Wesley and early Methodism. The topics range widely. Gary Best shows the significant role of Charles Wesley in the formation of early Methodism, in contrast to most accounts where he has been overshadowed by his brother John. Paul Chilcote provides a theologically rich analysis of the use of the terms “restore,” “renew,” and “revive” in Wesley’s hymns. Pauline Watson draws on the psychoanalytic theory of Julia Kristeva to show why his hymns elicit a response that often goes beyond the cognitive. Martin Clarke examines how the musical settings of the hymns contribute to their formative impact. Peter Forsaith offers a detailed listing and description of the portraits of Charles Wesley, both in his lifetime and afterward. Finally, Jonathan Barry discusses the friendship of Charles Wesley with John Henderson, whose unorthodox beliefs and involvement in the occult greatly alarmed Charles (although the essay is much more centered on Henderson than Wesley).

This volume will be of interest to those who study Charles Wesley, early Methodism, hymnody, and eighteenth-century religion. It is not intended as an introduction to Charles Wesley – for that, one should read the biographies of Charles by Gary Best and John R. Tyson.