Written in 1913 when Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, had been dead for less than 20 years, Austin Craig's book takes a serious look at where Rizal came from, what happened during his lifetime, and the incredible impact he had on his country in the years following his death. That impact is still felt today. About 30% of the book is history, the story of the Philippines from its beginning, and a description of the conflicting influences that have shaped that country. Rizal's lineage is traced from the 17th century to show the odd mixture resulting in one of the worlds greatest geniuses.

His political activities are described, and the political impact Rizal had on the Philippines and the world is threaded throughout the book. But his personal accomplishments are even more impressive than his political impact. Jose Rizal was a master of many trades. He was an artist - painting, sculpting, drawing, and carving; he wrote plays. poetry, novels, and satirical skits; he mastered over a dozen languages; he traveled the world and studied numerous topics including surveying, medicine, agriculture, psychology, and anthropology; and he was a physician specializing in ophthalmology. In spite of many hardships, such as prejudice, exile and imprisonment he managed to accomplish so much in his 36 years.

Craig does an excellent job of pulling together, with clarity and brevity, the life of this incredibly talented and productive, though unfortunate, man and his times. The description of Rizal's last days is moving as he is imprisoned, tried, condemned to death, and executed by firing squad.