- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books; New Impression edition (May 1969)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 033010196X
- ISBN-13: 978-0330101967
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.9 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 268,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book tells the true story of a small but determined woman, who, feeling that she was called by God to serve Him in China, took herself there, through dangerous territory during a war, and accomplished great things in His name.
She came from a very ordinary background and had little education or training. The big missionary organisations of the day would not support her and yet she knew that she must go. The journey there is enough to fill a book. Once in China she ran a hostel, worked in a prison, became an official foot-inspector at a time when the practice of binding small girls' feet to prevent their growth was being outlawed, and adopted a great many orphans. She became a Chinese citizen and was there at that difficult time in the 1930s when the Japanese, the communists and the nationalists were all contending for power. In this situation she led 100 children to safety over high mountains.
Her story is inspirational. She really was a small woman, of whom small things were expected ( she was formerly a parlour-maid in London). Yet against all the odds and against all expectations Gladys Aylward went forward bravely, a solitary British Woman in a strange land, to do that to which she was called. She returned to Taiwan after the war and lived out the rest of her days there, founding and running an orphanage. She is an example of a selfless life given for others .
She came from a very ordinary background and had little education or training. The big missionary organisations of the day would not support her and yet she knew that she must go. The journey there is enough to fill a book. Once in China she ran a hostel, worked in a prison, became an official foot-inspector at a time when the practice of binding small girls' feet to prevent their growth was being outlawed, and adopted a great many orphans. She became a Chinese citizen and was there at that difficult time in the 1930s when the Japanese, the communists and the nationalists were all contending for power. In this situation she led 100 children to safety over high mountains.
Her story is inspirational. She really was a small woman, of whom small things were expected ( she was formerly a parlour-maid in London). Yet against all the odds and against all expectations Gladys Aylward went forward bravely, a solitary British Woman in a strange land, to do that to which she was called. She returned to Taiwan after the war and lived out the rest of her days there, founding and running an orphanage. She is an example of a selfless life given for others .
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
`The Small Woman' (1957) by Alan Burgess is a good book about the life of Gladys Aylward, an uneducated parlour maid from London turned independent missionary to China who did some amazing exploits for God. This review is based on the 1958, Hardback edition which has, 17 chapters, plus postscript, lots of Black and White photos and two maps, one at each end of the book (which are the same!). The map is helpful in tracing her journey and ministry in around her `home' town of Yangcheng in Shensi Province, China.
This book is the first book ever written about this remarkable woman and only goes up to 1957 whereas `A London Sparrow' (1971) by Phyllis Thompson and `The Little Woman' (1970) by Gladys Aylward with Christine Hunter cover her life in more detail. `London Sparrow' covers more facts and includes her death and burial whereas `The Little Woman' is more of a novel and end abruptly of her trips abroad.
To repeat myself, `The Small Woman' (1957) by Alan Burgess is a good book and is well written and well researched, however, there is a conflict in the year of her departure by train to China - which Burgess puts at Oct. 1930 and the two other books put it at 1932! After that, all the facts seem to be in place, though dates are a bit sparse.
The conflict between Japan and China, the Nationalist and the Communist and the many bombing of cities, fleeing, evacuating, many tragedies and the like are quite in-depth, as is the finale of the book where she takes, near 100 children, mostly orphans through enemies territory, over mountain to rescue with only 2 days food! The book cover her work in prison, as a foot binder as a missionary inn keeper, mother to many, church leader, servant, advisor to the Mandarin, nurse during the bombings etc., etc., and her own failings, ill health and the man who wanted to marry her. Eventually she comes back to England where she spends many years, but having become a Chinese national in 1936, it is not as easy as it states!
This book is the first book ever written about this remarkable woman and only goes up to 1957 whereas `A London Sparrow' (1971) by Phyllis Thompson and `The Little Woman' (1970) by Gladys Aylward with Christine Hunter cover her life in more detail. `London Sparrow' covers more facts and includes her death and burial whereas `The Little Woman' is more of a novel and end abruptly of her trips abroad.
To repeat myself, `The Small Woman' (1957) by Alan Burgess is a good book and is well written and well researched, however, there is a conflict in the year of her departure by train to China - which Burgess puts at Oct. 1930 and the two other books put it at 1932! After that, all the facts seem to be in place, though dates are a bit sparse.
The conflict between Japan and China, the Nationalist and the Communist and the many bombing of cities, fleeing, evacuating, many tragedies and the like are quite in-depth, as is the finale of the book where she takes, near 100 children, mostly orphans through enemies territory, over mountain to rescue with only 2 days food! The book cover her work in prison, as a foot binder as a missionary inn keeper, mother to many, church leader, servant, advisor to the Mandarin, nurse during the bombings etc., etc., and her own failings, ill health and the man who wanted to marry her. Eventually she comes back to England where she spends many years, but having become a Chinese national in 1936, it is not as easy as it states!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had never heard of the small woman, Gladys Aylward, before receiving this book. But I was hooked from the first chapter. Born in London, Gladys had a deep desire to travel to China and work as a missionary. Although rejected at first, with perseverance and a good dose of determination she achieves her dream. Her unshakable belief in God seems to carry her through every difficult experience.
During her initiation into the work of a missionary and subsequent trials through the Japanese occupation of WWII, Gladys proves her worth with the Chinese people and becomes known as Ai-weh-deh, the virtuous one. There are many episodes that will stay in my memory. For example, when she is flung alone into the prison and given the task of pacifying the prisoners after a brutal riot.
This book is an inspirational account of one woman's faith in God and well worth a read.
During her initiation into the work of a missionary and subsequent trials through the Japanese occupation of WWII, Gladys proves her worth with the Chinese people and becomes known as Ai-weh-deh, the virtuous one. There are many episodes that will stay in my memory. For example, when she is flung alone into the prison and given the task of pacifying the prisoners after a brutal riot.
This book is an inspirational account of one woman's faith in God and well worth a read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Small Woman: Alan Burgess
Product was described as in good condition when I decided to make my purchase. On receipt on Tuesday 2nd August I was disappointed in the condition of the book I received. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. J. Watson
A wonderful read.
This book was recommended to me by my mother! And I'm very glad that she did. It is a wonderful adventure book which will clearly mean more to someone with a religious... Read more
Published 10 months ago by MJDR
The Small Woman
I was amazed that I could purchase this book as it is nearly as old as I am, I have looked for it for 30 years after seeing the film. Read more
Published 11 months ago by ingrid
The Small Woman
This is a very challenging book.
Firstly it shows us God's magnificent hand in the life of an ordinary woman, who was used to do extraodrinary things in the name of the... Read more
Firstly it shows us God's magnificent hand in the life of an ordinary woman, who was used to do extraodrinary things in the name of the... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2007 by C. Cameron
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
