True patriotism; letters, lectures, and notes, 1939-45,

This book, unfortunately out of print, is part of a multi-volume collection of Bonhoeffer's (B hereafter) writings. In addition to the late theolgians writings, it also contains quite of few letters to and from the bishop of Chichester and others dealing with Bonhoeffer's hopes for the role of the church in post-war Germany. Many of B's letters here are quite guarded, and some use code words as he knew during the war that he was under suspicion. Also useful are the biographical comments and timelines supplied by the editor.Some of the material is of limited value to contemporary readers, such as B's attempts at fiction or his letters to family and friends which don't communicate much. But there is much wealth here also. B was asked to write a reply to an attack on the doctrine of infant baptism by someone named Hitzer, and it is one of the best treatments of the subject I've seen.Overall the book is quite valuable for anyone who wishes to see a bit more deeply into the life and work of perhaps the most memorable theologians of the last century.