My Time with Karl Barth: Diaries 1965-1968

Karl Barth (1886-1968) was without doubt the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He stood up to Nazism and presented a new theological vision in his multi-volume Church Dogmatics.

Eberhard Busch worked as Barth’s personal assistant from 1965 until Barth’s death in 1968. During those years, Busch visited Barth and his family every day in their Basel home, making notes of his visits and conversations as well as protocols of Barth’s seminars. Barth had decided not to write an autobiography but shared many thoughts and memories with Busch to preserve them for the future. Thus Busch’s diary becomes a unique and fascinating document, lively and funny, with a gem on almost every page. The whole world of the 1960s comes to life, as tales include Barth’s visit to the Vatican, his reactions to Vatican II and the many visitors he received at the Basel home.