• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Baptist & Christian News

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion

More results...

Two biographies focus on two gifted women

December 13, 2006 By The Pathway

Two biographies focus on two gifted women

Anne Bradstreet: A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought of a Puritan Poet by Heidi L. Nichols (P&R Publishing, 2006) 211 pages, $13.99.

Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby by Edith L. Blumhofer (Eerdmans, 2005) 365 pages, $20.00.

Anne Bradstreet and Fanny Crosby are important figures in American church history. Today we look at a pair of biographies that chronicle the story of each of these gifted women. The thing that unites them is that they both wrote – one wrote lyrics and the other poetry – and they both exhibited strength and resilience in the face of trials.

While Crosby is probably the better known of the two women, Anne Bradstreet comes first in the pages of history. Bradstreet formed part of the early generations of Puritan immigrants to the new world, traveling with John Winthrop’s group in 1630. Amidst daily trials that threatened life and peace of soul, Anne poured herself into her work of marriage and motherhood. In her private moments she picked up the quill and wrote poetry.

A few years later her brother took her poems back to England and found a publisher. This was no small task at the time, for women were discouraged from such ventures and considered inferior for the task of writing. Nevertheless, in 1560 she became America’s first published poet.

Heidi Nichols puts together this splendid introduction to Anne Bradstreet that contains a biographical sketch, along with selections of Bradstreet’s poetry, letters, and proverbs. While the biography section can be quickly consumed, the poems are best enjoyed at a slow simmer. 

This should not be relegated to the category of being a “women’s book.” However, Christmas is soon upon us, and I do believe it would make a good present for a wife or daughter. (Once you give it to them, you can always borrow it back!)

A second biography is about the life and hymns of Fanny Crosby, the nineteenth-century hymn writer. As any good Baptist knows, she is the author of dozens of songs in our hymnbook. But did you know she composed more than 9,000 hymns?

You probably knew the amazing fact that she did all of this work even though she was blind. But did you know that she was not born blind? She was injured in infancy through a negligent doctor.

Edith Blumhofer gives us a very thorough biography of Crosby, utilizing primary documents and extensive historical research of the period. It is hard to take Crosby down from the pedestal, but Blumhofer ably weaves through Crosby’s life in such a way that brings out her humanity.

This biography would make an excellent addition to a church library, or as a Christmas gift for a minister of music. (Scott Lamb pastors Providence Baptist Church, St. Louis, and is a regular book reviewer for The Pathway. To respond to this review or to read about other books, visit www.wisdomofthepages.com.)

Comments

Trending

  • Sight & Sound to stream ‘Miracle of Christmas’ in homes worldwide, Dec. 1-3
  • Sight & Sound to release debut film, ‘I Heard the Bells,’ on DVD, online
  • 2023 Week of Prayer, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering resources available now
  • Missouri Baptists reach over 1,300 Mississippi inmates through vision clinics
  • Small Deepwater congregation makes large community impact

Ethics

ERLC urges rescindment of proposed LGBTQ+ foster care regulation

Timothy Cockes

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has released a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rescind a recently proposed regulation regarding foster care providers and foster children who identify as LGBTQ+.

Iowa parents win temporary relief from transgender school policy

Diana Chandler

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

SBU, Mercy expand health care education partnership

Southwest Baptist University

After nearly four decades working together to train the next generation of nurses, Southwest Baptist University and Mercy Springfield Communities are expanding their partnership to include a broader range of health care professions.

Copyright © 2023 · The Pathway