Called by the famed Charles Spurgeon "the greatest of living preachers," John A. Broadus left an indelible signature not only on the Baptist denomination but on a generation. Emerging from the US Civil War as a voice of reason and reconciliation, he traveled, wrote, and tirelessly trained clergy for the urgencies of his time. Compiled by direct descendant Betsy Reeder and based on the words of Broadus and his intimates, Broadus Unbound reveals a complex and unforgettable personality, ablaze with unshakable faith and indomitable willpower. The biography includes never-before-published letters preserved for five generations by the family. Combined with other nineteenth-century writings, the result is an unveiling of the man and his world unlike any previously offered.

Betsy Reeder is a retired biologist and college educator. She is the author of a historical fiction trilogy-Madam's Creek (2017), Broomstraw Ridge (2019), and Salt in Boiling Water (2021)-and a doting grandma.