Memoir and Letters of Francis W. Newman

"Memoir and Letters of Francis W. Newman" by I. Giberne Sieveking is a close look into the life of Francis W. Newman, brother to Cardinal John Henry Newman, and his work as a social reformer in the late 1800s. The story sets the stage by showing how Francis developed his different religious ideas and social views, which were very different from the usual Christian beliefs of the time and quite different from his brother's. The author begins by explaining their family history and how it shaped both brothers, but especially focuses on Francis's search for his own personal faith that wasn't tied to strict rules. This led him to become a social reformer. This part of the book is like an introduction and an invitation to understand Francis's complex personality, his unique ideas, and his relationships as the story goes on.