Faithful Witness

'Alan Don's diaries are a revelation, full of perceptive and lively comment on the leaders of the Church of England and aspects of public and social life during the difficult years of the 1930s and 1940s.' * Philip Williamson, Professor of Modern British History, Durham University *
'Robert Beaken has done a magnificent job of presenting these journals and bringing to life again a cast of remarkable figures during an eventful and traumatic era. . . A really valuable contribution to the history of twentieth century Britain.' * Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge *
'These wonderful diaries add hugely to our understanding of the centrality of the Church in the British state in the run up to global conflict.' * Mark Chapman, Professor of the History of Modern Theology, University of Oxford *
'The entries on the Second World War are especially vivid and compelling.' * Matthew Grimley, Associate Professor of Modern History, Merton College, Oxford *
'An essential resource for researchers of these turbulent years, but also a delight for any reader to dip into.' * Paul Avis, Honorary Professor, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University *
I can't express how much I have been enjoying The Confidential Diaries of Alan Don, who was for a decade from 1931 chaplain and secretary to the strange Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang . . . The 500-page diaries have been brilliantly reduced from 1,764 closely written pages by Robert Beaken, who wrote a marvellous biography of Lang in 2012. -- Christopher Howse * The Telegraph *
Certainly a volume that will give you endless delight . . . this is a "must buy". -- Perry Butler * Anglo Catholic History Society *
Fascinating. * Westminster Abbey Review *