More Books About Extraordinary Women

More Books About Extraordinary Women

 

Summer is nearly upon us and I hope you will get some of the books that are listed here in this review. Check out my other postings under the “Reviews” section of this blog for more great books. They will keep you uplifted all season long.

Also check out the DVD reviews for some good quality entertainment for you and your kids who will be home all summer. Speaking of kids, there are more books by Simonetta Carr reviewed in the May 4, 2011 posting, “Books to Share With Young Friends”. These are mostly about young ladies, but the publishers have great books for young men too.

 

—  Herbstrith, Waltraud, Edith Stein: A Biography, (Ignatius Press, San Francisco, second edition, 1992).

Edith Stein (October 12, 1891 – August (6?) 1942) was a woman of remarkable intelligence and devotion. She trained as a philosopher in the early 1900’s as a student of the famous Edmund Husserl. She was born into a Jewish family, but lost her faith as a teenager. God marvelously won her to Himself after the death of a good friend.

Though she is remembered as a Christian martyr, her death was actually due to the fact that she was Jewish. In this exciting story you will see that she could have saved her own life several times when the Nazis came looking for her, but she refused to leave her beloved sister behind. She stood firm for the righteous cause that she believed in – freedom of worship for all people.

Edith Stein opposed the Nazis from a time even before Hitler had taken over the government. She knew that not only her people, the Jews, were in danger but that the church would suffer persecution as well. For her courageous stance against Hitler’s regime, she eventually lost her life at Auschwitz.

This biography by Waltraud Herbstrith of Edith Stein delves into her incredibly intelligent mind. Edith never put on airs, and she was always willing to serve others. What a loss to mankind her early death was.

 

—  Carr, Simonetta, Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata, (P & R Publishing, Phillipsburg, 2011).

This is the fifth book in “The Chosen Daughters Series”. The other four were reviewed on this blog May 2011. They are wonderful books for a student of history no matter what age she is. I especially like sharing them with my granddaughter. We talk about the character traits of these women and how they served the Lord.

Olympia Morata (1526 – 1555) was an incredibly intelligent girl. Her father, who was a professor of literature in an Italian university, recognized her gifts and saw to it that she was well educated. Olympia wrote poetry, songs, and other essays that were far ahead of her time.

When your daughter, niece, or granddaughter is out of school for the summer, encourage her to read this inspiring story or any of the others by Simonetta Carr.

 

—  Christian, Carol and Plummer, Gladys, God & One Redhead: The Courageous Story of Mary Slessor, Legendary Missionary to Africa,  (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, 1971).

Mary Slessor (December 2, 1848 – January 13, 1915) is still known as one of the most famous missionaries to Africa. Born into a poor family, she worked hard in the factories of her native Scotland until she was old enough to go out on her own.

Mary was a real fighter (today we might call her a “tomboy”) and her toughness would enable her to deal with the wilds of Africa where she faced death from disease, angry natives, and opposition from demons. She lived among the Africans, most of the time alone, in the bush for over thirty years serving with the Calabar Mission in West Africa. She was distinguished as the first woman magistrate in the British Empire.

This is a book that is not easy to put down. Mary led a very interesting life, full of fun, adventure, and dependence on God, and yet she also suffered from fevers, frustrations and personal losses. Believing that “God and one are always a majority,” Mary was able to accomplish the ending of many evil tribal practices including the putting to death of slaves, wives, and children due to superstition. Many thousands were grateful for her help.

 

—  Gordon, Anna A., The Beautiful Life of Frances E. Willard, (The Woman’s Temperance Publishing Association, 1898).

Frances E. Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 18, 1898) is most well known for her work with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Temperance was just one issue that she was concerned with. Frances also helped in the area of prison reform, anti-prostitution laws, and the right for women to vote.

I am really privileged to have a Memorial Edition of this book. It is beautifully done, containing many wonderful pictures and a section at the end with “Character Sketches  -Tributes” done by many famous people who had the privilege of knowing Frances Willard.

Lady Henry Somerset said of Frances Willard, “But I think the greatest evidence of how deeply she was rooted in Christianity was her power of forgiveness.” Frances did not waste time on bitterness, but spent all of her energy on making things better for those around her. Because of her character, she won over many people around her. Frances’ story should make us all feel guilty for our laxity. She is an encouragement to us for how much we can do with the help of God.

If you can’t get a memorial copy, get any copy of the life of Frances Willard. You will be uplifted as you read the story of this tireless, charitable woman.

 

—  Wilson, Dorothy Clarke, Dr. Ida: the Story of Dr. Ida Scudder of Vellore (McGraw Hill, New York, 1959).

Dr. Ida Scudder (December 9, 1870 – 1959, in India) is still remembered for her work in India. She was the daughter of long time medical missionary Dr. John Scudder and Sophia Scudder. She grew up in India and saw all of the famine and suffering and left for the United States to study, hoping to leave it all behind.

She studied at seminary in America and wanted to get married and stay in the United States; she was through with all of the poverty and helplessness she saw in India – or so she thought.

Her life would be changed forever after a tragedy. She had returned to India after seminary for a while. One night a high caste Brahmin stepped into her room and begged for help. His young wife was struggling with the birth of their child and would die if she didn’t come. He wanted a woman to come, since in their culture the people did not allow strange men around their female relatives. Without medical knowledge, she was unable to save his young wife who died in childbirth along with the baby. Two more women died in childbirth that night. Ida believed that God was telling her that she needed to return to America and study medicine and return to India to help the women.

She did this and eventually went on to found a hospital and a medical school for girls. This is an exciting story of faith and dedication to the cause of better health for the women in India. This is another fascinating book that will encourage your heart.

 

Happy Reading!!