The Seven Lives of Abraham Kuyper: A Biography

By Johan Snel

One of the "best books of the year" --de Volkskrant "Outstanding and impressive biography, rated maximum ★★★★★ " --All About Books & Writers Shortlisted for the triennial Boerhaave Biography Prize

Fresh perspectives on the greatest divisive force in Dutch history.

A century ago, the world's most famous Dutchman passed away. The only Netherlander besides Queen Wilhelmina to make the front page of The New York Times, Kuyper was a wunderkind described as possessing "ten heads and a hundred arms."

Johan Snel portrays Kuyper's seven colorful lives: mountaineer, globetrotter, orator, scholar, activist, journalist, and statesman. Drawing from fresh sources and containing surprising insights, The Seven Lives of Abraham Kuyper presents a kaleidoscope of a man whose versatility was surpassed only by his productivity--traveling half the world, writing over two hundred books and tens of thousands of articles, establishing a new Reformed denomination, and founding the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Anti-Revolutionary Party. Though Kuyper's sworn enemies comprised almost the entire Dutch elite and the young queen, he had more admirers than detractors and was internationally lauded as a statesman who dined with kings and emperors.

Snel provides a riveting presentation of the greatest divisive force in Dutch history.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1683599144
• ISBN13: 9781683599142
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 512 Pages