Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Lucy S. R. Austen’s biography of Elisabeth Elliot is not only (by far) the best account we have of this fascinating woman; it is also a book that should inspire other biographers―both first-timers and veterans―to resist the relentless pressure to smooth out the rough edges of the lives they are seeking to chronicle. Here we have a story that will remind us of the twists and turns, the unexpected chapters, and the deep sense of grace that marks our own lives.”
―John Wilson, Senior Editor, The Marginalia Review of Books; former Editor, Books & Culture
“Elisabeth Elliot first rose to fame by bringing the story of the ‘Auca martyrs’ to the world, but as this carefully researched and deftly written biography shows, she was much more than an iconographer. She became a provocateur who cast doubts on the triumphalism of the evangelical missions industry. She became an ardent critic of fundamentalist spirituality and cultural separatism. She encouraged a generation of evangelical artists and intellectuals who wondered if God really wanted to use their talents. And she was an arch-traditionalist who attacked modern egalitarianism, especially as it addressed gender roles. Elliot was a brilliant, difficult, and complicated person, and this biography treats her life with great sensitivity and honesty. Anyone who wants to understand Elisabeth Elliot, and indeed postwar American evangelicalism, needs to read this book.”
―Joel Carpenter, Provost and Professor Emeritus, Calvin University; editor, Christianity Remade: The Rise of Indian Instituted Churches
“Lucy S. R. Austen’s biography of the most famous American Christian woman of the twentieth century leaves no stone unturned. This extremely detailed account reveals the inner life of a very public woman, illustrating not only her high spiritual calling but also constant tensions related to her gender. Utterly committed to her understanding of the Bible’s teachings about men and women, Elliot found herself at the whims of male Christian leaders and husbands with differing visions, as well as at odds with the women’s liberation movement and egalitarian Christianity. This book nuances the two-dimensional picture of Elisabeth Elliot merely as the widow of a famous martyr to provide a multidimensional account of women in missions and American Evangelical Christianity.”
―Gina A. Zurlo, Codirector, Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
“In her day, Elisabeth Elliot was one of the most formidable women in all the world. This thoughtfully crafted biography tells the unlikely story of how a missionary kid became an American evangelical icon. Lucy S. R. Austen’s eye for what made Elliot both remarkable and human renders this book an especially compelling read.”
―Heath W. Carter, Associate Professor of American Christianity, Princeton Theological Seminary
About the Author
Lucy S. R. Austen (BA, University of Washington) is a writer, editor, and teacher who has spent over a decade studying source materials on Elisabeth Elliot. She has served on the editorial staff of the Spring Hill Review, contributed to various publications, and developed two high school English textbooks on prominent Christian authors. S. R. Austen lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and children.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of a Modern Day Job
** spoiler alert **I believe this book to be my most important read of 2023. Elisabeth Elliot is one of three women who has had incalculable influence on the shaping of my personal worldview. She loomed like a giant over my developing years - a voice I heard in person at conferences, a narrative voice that guided me through exotic places and extraordinary events, a quiet face I looked into at the age of fifteen when she stepped into a side room at the Dallas Training center where my youth choir was rehearsing. With such a background, I’m not sure that any book written about her is going to completely satisfy my need to know her more as a spiritual mentor, but this book comes close.I was less than thrilled with the first installment of the authorized biography (I have yet to read the second volume), mainly because I felt that Ellen Vaughn got in the way of her own writing by refusing to use proper academic rigor, creating a choppy narrative, and inserting her own journey as she read through Elliot’s journals, often writing in first person. That is not how you write a biography, and I was profoundly disappointed by the end. In contrast, Lucy S. R. Austen’s work hits the mark on academics. She contextualizes historical issues appropriately and allows Elisabeth Elliot to speak for herself when needed. One wonders what this author could have done if she had been granted access to the materials owned by the Elisabeth Elliot Foundation.In my opinion, a truly good book is one will shipwreck you on your own assumptions. I like to be destroyed by what I read. One way Austen accomplishes this as a biographer is her bird’s eye view of history - she not only tells Elliot’s story, but she provides a 360 view of Elliot’s contemporary history that allows the reader to understand why Elisabeth Elliot came to be. Ever heard of the American Holiness Movement? I hadn’t either. Ever wondered what happened in the decades-long gap between the early fundamentalists and the modern evangelical fundamentalism we know today? You’ll follow that thread in this book. I was able to put two-and-two together over things I know about my great-grandparents, grandparents, and even my parents thanks to Austen’s journalistic and contextual approach.The author emphasizes Elliot’s dislike for Christian triumphalism, and one of the strongest ways she does this is be deconstructing the modern mythos of Elliot in the modern evangelical mind. Some of these include the following:- Elliot was Episcopalian and very critical of the increasingly shallow theology and worship of evangelical churches through the 20th century.- Despite being a giant in the complementation landscape, Elliot led worship services and taught theology to men while on the mission field, and taught theology to mixed audiences after her return to the states (a fact some complementation women find hard to swallow).- Despite the triumphalist narrative of her work with the Waorani, Elliot’s missionary life bore little fruit on the field.- All three of her marriages contained serious flaws with the last one verging on psychological and emotional abuse.- The trials of her first marriage are almost mythologized by evangelicals while the trials of her last marriage (which were arguably worse) are ignored by or are unknown to her audience.- Elliot was a literary writer before anything else, and there is a sense where evangelicals stifled her writing career by claiming her as one of their own; had she not become a major voice in the purity movement, her legacy would be very different.- Her beliefs on dating, worship, courtship and other major issues shifted greatly during her lifetime.She’s not a perfect woman by any means. However, what stands out about this book is the sheer depth of her suffering, often eloquently captured. Her entire adult life - including all three marriages - was marked by deep loss and loneliness. Like Job, she never arrived at the answer for suffering’s existence, but she arrived at an intimate knowledge of God because of her suffering. This is where she excels the most, and where her writing has the potential for the most impact (I strongly recommend reading her book Suffering is Not For Nothing). Despite the paradigm shifts, the long and lonely journey, her unanswered questions, and baggage from American Christianity, she never lost her foundation on God’s sovereignty. And, it might be added, God never let go of her.Her’s is a story worth reading. Five stars.
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like fascinating biographies this is the one for you.
This is an excellent biography written also as an insightful commentary of Elisabeth's "world". I am only starting and am in her Wheaton years but am thoroughly enjoying this author's style.I have read the authorized biography, too, and believe me this is better.I met and spoke to Elisabeth very briefly after she spoke to a women's group (sometime in the late 1990's). She was very gracious and later sent me a handwritten note with the quote I had asked for.Ruth Jackins
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read all year (and no, it's NOT the ONLY book I've read :)
The most thought-provoking book I’ve read, in a long time. This is biography as it should be: unflinching but not uncharitable. There isn’t any attempt here to cover over the ugly parts of Elliot’s life, but neither is the author going around disparaging her for her failings. For the most part, the author just gives you the facts and encourages you to think for yourself about the complicated business of being human.That, imo, is one of the biggest benefits to reading biography. Reading about someone else’s life--since anyone you read about is like you in some ways and different in some ways--can be interesting entertainment, for sure; but even more than that, it lets you look at your own life more objectively. What separates really good biography is how natural and easy it makes that self-reflection. When a book makes you think of ways you could live better, it's a good book.The one downside to this book is that (and maybe this is obvious, if you already had some familiarity with Elliot's story) it can be pretty heavy in places. Not that it isn't uplifting in places, too, but might not be quite the thing if you're looking for a light-hearted beach read.The book raises questions about freedom and determinism in ways I hadn’t considered them before. I’ve read as many good books as anyone, I guess, but this is one of only a handful that actually changed the way I think and the way I view the world in the day-to-day. If you’re going to read only one book this year, I’d make it this one.P.S. I see that the reviewer above me mentioned this, so: I received this book for thirty five dollars and ninety-nine cents from Bolo, and I WAS required to write a positive review, but only by my own conscience.
Recommend
Love this lady. She writes very well and is a great read.
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Elisabeth Elliot: A Life
AED28227
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Visit the Crossway Store
Elisabeth Elliot: A Life
AED28227
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
This item qualifies for free delivery
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Lucy S. R. Austen’s biography of Elisabeth Elliot is not only (by far) the best account we have of this fascinating woman; it is also a book that should inspire other biographers―both first-timers and veterans―to resist the relentless pressure to smooth out the rough edges of the lives they are seeking to chronicle. Here we have a story that will remind us of the twists and turns, the unexpected chapters, and the deep sense of grace that marks our own lives.”
―John Wilson, Senior Editor, The Marginalia Review of Books; former Editor, Books & Culture
“Elisabeth Elliot first rose to fame by bringing the story of the ‘Auca martyrs’ to the world, but as this carefully researched and deftly written biography shows, she was much more than an iconographer. She became a provocateur who cast doubts on the triumphalism of the evangelical missions industry. She became an ardent critic of fundamentalist spirituality and cultural separatism. She encouraged a generation of evangelical artists and intellectuals who wondered if God really wanted to use their talents. And she was an arch-traditionalist who attacked modern egalitarianism, especially as it addressed gender roles. Elliot was a brilliant, difficult, and complicated person, and this biography treats her life with great sensitivity and honesty. Anyone who wants to understand Elisabeth Elliot, and indeed postwar American evangelicalism, needs to read this book.”
―Joel Carpenter, Provost and Professor Emeritus, Calvin University; editor, Christianity Remade: The Rise of Indian Instituted Churches
“Lucy S. R. Austen’s biography of the most famous American Christian woman of the twentieth century leaves no stone unturned. This extremely detailed account reveals the inner life of a very public woman, illustrating not only her high spiritual calling but also constant tensions related to her gender. Utterly committed to her understanding of the Bible’s teachings about men and women, Elliot found herself at the whims of male Christian leaders and husbands with differing visions, as well as at odds with the women’s liberation movement and egalitarian Christianity. This book nuances the two-dimensional picture of Elisabeth Elliot merely as the widow of a famous martyr to provide a multidimensional account of women in missions and American Evangelical Christianity.”
―Gina A. Zurlo, Codirector, Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
“In her day, Elisabeth Elliot was one of the most formidable women in all the world. This thoughtfully crafted biography tells the unlikely story of how a missionary kid became an American evangelical icon. Lucy S. R. Austen’s eye for what made Elliot both remarkable and human renders this book an especially compelling read.”
―Heath W. Carter, Associate Professor of American Christianity, Princeton Theological Seminary
About the Author
Lucy S. R. Austen (BA, University of Washington) is a writer, editor, and teacher who has spent over a decade studying source materials on Elisabeth Elliot. She has served on the editorial staff of the Spring Hill Review, contributed to various publications, and developed two high school English textbooks on prominent Christian authors. S. R. Austen lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and children.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of a Modern Day Job
** spoiler alert **I believe this book to be my most important read of 2023. Elisabeth Elliot is one of three women who has had incalculable influence on the shaping of my personal worldview. She loomed like a giant over my developing years - a voice I heard in person at conferences, a narrative voice that guided me through exotic places and extraordinary events, a quiet face I looked into at the age of fifteen when she stepped into a side room at the Dallas Training center where my youth choir was rehearsing. With such a background, I’m not sure that any book written about her is going to completely satisfy my need to know her more as a spiritual mentor, but this book comes close.I was less than thrilled with the first installment of the authorized biography (I have yet to read the second volume), mainly because I felt that Ellen Vaughn got in the way of her own writing by refusing to use proper academic rigor, creating a choppy narrative, and inserting her own journey as she read through Elliot’s journals, often writing in first person. That is not how you write a biography, and I was profoundly disappointed by the end. In contrast, Lucy S. R. Austen’s work hits the mark on academics. She contextualizes historical issues appropriately and allows Elisabeth Elliot to speak for herself when needed. One wonders what this author could have done if she had been granted access to the materials owned by the Elisabeth Elliot Foundation.In my opinion, a truly good book is one will shipwreck you on your own assumptions. I like to be destroyed by what I read. One way Austen accomplishes this as a biographer is her bird’s eye view of history - she not only tells Elliot’s story, but she provides a 360 view of Elliot’s contemporary history that allows the reader to understand why Elisabeth Elliot came to be. Ever heard of the American Holiness Movement? I hadn’t either. Ever wondered what happened in the decades-long gap between the early fundamentalists and the modern evangelical fundamentalism we know today? You’ll follow that thread in this book. I was able to put two-and-two together over things I know about my great-grandparents, grandparents, and even my parents thanks to Austen’s journalistic and contextual approach.The author emphasizes Elliot’s dislike for Christian triumphalism, and one of the strongest ways she does this is be deconstructing the modern mythos of Elliot in the modern evangelical mind. Some of these include the following:- Elliot was Episcopalian and very critical of the increasingly shallow theology and worship of evangelical churches through the 20th century.- Despite being a giant in the complementation landscape, Elliot led worship services and taught theology to men while on the mission field, and taught theology to mixed audiences after her return to the states (a fact some complementation women find hard to swallow).- Despite the triumphalist narrative of her work with the Waorani, Elliot’s missionary life bore little fruit on the field.- All three of her marriages contained serious flaws with the last one verging on psychological and emotional abuse.- The trials of her first marriage are almost mythologized by evangelicals while the trials of her last marriage (which were arguably worse) are ignored by or are unknown to her audience.- Elliot was a literary writer before anything else, and there is a sense where evangelicals stifled her writing career by claiming her as one of their own; had she not become a major voice in the purity movement, her legacy would be very different.- Her beliefs on dating, worship, courtship and other major issues shifted greatly during her lifetime.She’s not a perfect woman by any means. However, what stands out about this book is the sheer depth of her suffering, often eloquently captured. Her entire adult life - including all three marriages - was marked by deep loss and loneliness. Like Job, she never arrived at the answer for suffering’s existence, but she arrived at an intimate knowledge of God because of her suffering. This is where she excels the most, and where her writing has the potential for the most impact (I strongly recommend reading her book Suffering is Not For Nothing). Despite the paradigm shifts, the long and lonely journey, her unanswered questions, and baggage from American Christianity, she never lost her foundation on God’s sovereignty. And, it might be added, God never let go of her.Her’s is a story worth reading. Five stars.
5.0 out of 5 stars If you like fascinating biographies this is the one for you.
This is an excellent biography written also as an insightful commentary of Elisabeth's "world". I am only starting and am in her Wheaton years but am thoroughly enjoying this author's style.I have read the authorized biography, too, and believe me this is better.I met and spoke to Elisabeth very briefly after she spoke to a women's group (sometime in the late 1990's). She was very gracious and later sent me a handwritten note with the quote I had asked for.Ruth Jackins
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read all year (and no, it's NOT the ONLY book I've read :)
The most thought-provoking book I’ve read, in a long time. This is biography as it should be: unflinching but not uncharitable. There isn’t any attempt here to cover over the ugly parts of Elliot’s life, but neither is the author going around disparaging her for her failings. For the most part, the author just gives you the facts and encourages you to think for yourself about the complicated business of being human.That, imo, is one of the biggest benefits to reading biography. Reading about someone else’s life--since anyone you read about is like you in some ways and different in some ways--can be interesting entertainment, for sure; but even more than that, it lets you look at your own life more objectively. What separates really good biography is how natural and easy it makes that self-reflection. When a book makes you think of ways you could live better, it's a good book.The one downside to this book is that (and maybe this is obvious, if you already had some familiarity with Elliot's story) it can be pretty heavy in places. Not that it isn't uplifting in places, too, but might not be quite the thing if you're looking for a light-hearted beach read.The book raises questions about freedom and determinism in ways I hadn’t considered them before. I’ve read as many good books as anyone, I guess, but this is one of only a handful that actually changed the way I think and the way I view the world in the day-to-day. If you’re going to read only one book this year, I’d make it this one.P.S. I see that the reviewer above me mentioned this, so: I received this book for thirty five dollars and ninety-nine cents from Bolo, and I WAS required to write a positive review, but only by my own conscience.
Recommend
Love this lady. She writes very well and is a great read.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Saints”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U1433565919