More Book Reviews

More Books About Extraordinary Women

I just realized that it has been a while since I put the information about the resources that I use in telling the stories of the very amazing and godly women on this blog. I hope that you are enjoying the stories and that you found these women fascinating enough to want to read more about them.

Here are some books that will inspire and encourage you.

— Crosby, Fanny J., Fanny J. Crosby – An Autobiography, (Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., Peabody, Massachusetts, 2008).

There probably isn’t anyone who attends church who hasn’t sung one of the over 8,000 hymns that Fanny Crosby wrote. When you realize that she was blind since an infant, it just staggers the imagination. When you read her story you will be uplifted, and maybe a little bit ashamed if you have ever complained about your hard life. Fanny overcame her handicap and became a much-loved poet, speaker, and teacher. She had to overcome prejudice as well. By our standards, she was terribly underpaid, yet she gave of her meager earnings to the poor. She never complained and was not bitter against the Lord, but joyfully said, “How in the world could I have lived such a helpful life as I have lived had I not been blind?” This is one of the most inspirational stories ever written.

— Dyer, Helen S., Pandita Ramabai – The Story of Her Life, (Morgan and Scott, LD, London). The copy I have is a reprint put out by Kessinger Publishing.

Pandita Ramabai Dongre Medhavi lived in India in the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Even today, women are badly mistreated in India, but during the time of her story the belief of many men in India was, “Women have no minds. They are lower than pigs.” Pandita’s father, a wealthy Hindu guru, recognized that women are just as intellectual as men and should be educated. Many thousands in India had cause to be grateful that he overcame prejudice against women and educated his daughter. Pandita would go on to eventually aid tens of thousands of widows and children during times of famine. She asked of God and received many great things in His name. One thing that I really like about the book is the pictures. They are a bit “grainy” but add much to the story. Pandita Ramabai has been thought to be the greatest woman of nineteenth century India. Her story shows us just how great God is.

— Livingstone, W. P., Christina Forsyth of Fingoland; The Story of the Loneliest Woman in Africa,  (George H. Doran Co., New York, originally published in 1919). The copy I have is a reprint.

Christina Forsyth earned her nickname of the “Loneliest Woman in Africa” because she lived alone for thirty years in an isolated mission station in Fingoland, South Africa from about 1886 to 1916. She never went further than twenty miles from her home. She was one of the most amazingly brave of women, because she lived among wild heathen tribes. It was said of her, “not one woman in five hundred … could have lived the life she lived.” She was very tough, and yet as you read the story you will see her humbleness. Inspired by the story of Mary Slessor’s life, she always worked as hard as she could, only stopping when her heart began to fail. Her desire was to see all of Africa, even the world, won to the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is another inspiring story of a truly great woman. This book also has some wonderful pictures in it of Mrs. Forsyth as well as pictures of the Fingo natives.

— Pitman, Mrs. E. R., Elizabeth Fry, (The copy I have is a reprint put out by Book Jungle, Champaign, IL).

Elizabeth Fry is deservedly remembered for her work in the prison system in England in the early 1800’s. Prison conditions were appalling and Mrs. Fry undertook to get laws changed so that the inhumane treatment of prisoners, especially the female prisoners, would change. She personally worked among them even though warned by others not to. For that she was loved and respected very much.
A summary of her story is given by the author, “Mrs. Fry dealt with women principally … there can be no doubt that she did a large service to society in taking possession of (the children of the fallen mothers) and educating them while with their mothers… it’s results no pen can compute. Woman-like, she aimed at the improvement of her own sex; but the reform which she inaugurated did not sop there. … it widened and extended and spread until she and her work became household words among all classes of society, and in all civilized countries.”
One of the more interesting things about the book is that many excerpts from the writings of Elizabeth Fry are included. Extracts from her journal bring the reader closer to this godly and amazing woman.

— Ray, Charles, Mrs. C. H. Spurgeon, (Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, Texas, 1903). My copy is a reprint, dated 2003.)
It must be really hard to be married to a man who is world famous. When Susannah Thompson married Charles Haddon Spurgeon, he was already well known and in demand as a speaker. Susannah was up to the task. She loved her husband dearly, and he returned the feelings completely. Even when she had health problems, he was a very attentive husband when he was home. It was lonely for her when he had to be gone, but she knew that God was using him for great things and she was willing to forego her own wants. She is an example of unselfishness and godliness for us.
Here is the story of a woman who did not let her physical ailments keep her from finding a way to serve God. Susannah Spurgeon started a book society that mailed literally thousands of books to ministers who could not otherwise afford them. Even after Spurgeon died, she carried on the work and in her will she directed funds to be given to the Book Fund. Her story will inspire and encourage you. This book also has some wonderful historical photographs.