Among the most complex, talented, and controversial religious figures of the 19th century, Cardinal John Henry Newman is recalled today primarily as the poet who wrote the text of Elgar's oratorio The Dream of Gerontius. In his own era, Newman was a major figure in British public life, playing a vital role in the Oxford Movement, and subsequently converting to Catholicism. In this biography, Michael Ffinch shows an unusual insight into Newman's character, finding an unexpected warmth and humor in a man often thought of as an austere theologian.