The story of Baháʼuʼlláh, promised one of all religions

Who was Baha'u'llah (1817-92)? Why was he persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, and exiled by the political and religious authorities of his time? These volumes attempt to make the life of this self-proclaimed divinity known to a wider audience. Baha'u'llah-an Arabic title meaning "Glory of God"-was the prophet-founder of the Baha'i faith, whose worldwide adherents number roughly six million. Baha'is rank him with all the other great Messengers of God, believing him to be Christ incarnate and the unifier and redeemer of humankind. Poet and writer Cederquist and author, publisher, and lecturer Matthews (He Cometh in Clouds: A Baha'i View of Christ's Return), both Baha'is themselves, bring this unfamiliar prophet back to life in their respective works. Cederquist describes Baha'u'llah's life straightforwardly but with drama and a talent for evoking the ambience of the 19th-century Persian and Ottoman milieus. Meant for a general reading audience, this book includes a minimum of footnotes and endnotes. The five appendixes cover chronology, Baha'u'llah's family, the branches of Islam, and millennial Christians. A glossary clarifies names and terms. Matthews offers a somewhat more sophisticated examination of Baha'u'llah's claims to be God's mouthpiece, framing his argument in terms of how scientific methods of investigation might be applied to them (reconciliation of science and religion is a Baha'i principle). He uses this approach in discussing Baha'u'llah's predictions, knowledge, character, method of revelation, and influence to make a case for Baha'u'llah's claims. Parts of the book require thorough concentration, particularly where Matthews delves into physics and paleontology. The main drawbacks to these volumes are the absence of a glossary in Matthews's case and the use of capitalized pronouns for central Baha'i figures (a Baha'i mark of reverence but disconcerting to the uninitiated) and the occasional use jargon (e.g., "the Cause") in referring to the Baha'i faith. As most libraries seriously lack general resources on the Baha'i founder, both books are highly recommended for public libraries; the dramatic tone and readability of Cederquist's work may appeal to YA audiences.-William P. Collins, Library of Congress (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.