The Small Woman by Alan Burgess lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.
Evans Brothers, 1959, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Maps to the endpapers and blanks; Portrait to the frontispiece;
From the cover: In this remarkable book, Alan Burgess tells the story of Gladys Aylward, known in China as The Small Woman. Small she is, being barely five feet in height, but great in heart and courage.
Twenty-five years ago, Gladys Aylward was a parlour maid in London, certain in her mind that her life work was to serve God as a missionary in China. After years of saving and struggle she set off for China by the overland route with a single ticket, a few shillings in cash and some tinned food for the journey. She survived many difficulties and at last reached her goal, a one-woman missionary outpost in the Southern Shansi district.
In her efforts to reach the heart of the peasant Chinese she started the Inn of Eight Happinesses and became Foot Inspector to the Mandarin of Yang Cheng. Single-handed, she quelled a mutiny in a prison and converted the Mandarin to Christianity.
Then came the Japanese, to bomb, ravage and kill. The Small Woman, after being battered by Japanese rifle butts, collected one hundred homeless Chinese children and led them on a terrible twelve-day march over the mountains to the Yellow River, only to find that crossing was forbidden. Again she prevailed and brought her flock from one refugee camp to another to the final haven of Fufeng, where the Nationalist Relief Organisation took charge of the children. Desperately ill after endless hardships, she partly regained her health and returned to England after twenty years absence, years of ceaseless missionary work under appalling conditions.
After lecturing and preaching in churches, schools and mission halls in England Gladys Aylward left for Hong-Kong and Formosa, where she is now continuing her missionary work and re-visiting some of the children whom she rescued.
The reader will follow with awe this inspiring record of the struggles and achievements of one of the most remarkable women of her generation.
Very Good in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with a long, closed, tear to the foot of the lower panel and marked to the centre of the upper. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Previous owners’ inscription to the first blank and again on the reverse. Text complete, clean and tight otherwise.
Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [VIII] 221 pages. 8¾” x 5¾”.
Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!
BookLovers of Bath 