How a story this brilliant can ever go out of print astonishes me. I first discovered the Reader's Digest version as a child and it captivated me even then. Forty years later I was lucky to trip over this full copy of the story at our library's book sale. It is a highly romanticized but presumably factual account of the missionary work conducted by Gladys Aylward, a young woman of London, England who journeyed to China on her own hard-earned dime in the 1930s with little idea of what she was embarking on. Burgess is very fond of his subject, but he uses an overly fawning tone that infantilizes her character (as the novel's original title suggests.) Fortunately the inspiring story he has to work with succeeds at shining through, as does Gladys' courage and determination. The book's alternative title reflect that of the 1958 film version staring Ingrid Bergman, but it is also a misnomer; the location referred to was actually called the Inn of Eight Happinesses. A bit of googling turns up photos of the location today, and Wikipedia rounds out Gladys' life story. ( )

I read this years ago and it was wonderful! Have spent hours trying to find a copy of any type that I can afford.

This is a true story of faith, determination, heroism, valor, and amazing. ( )

The Small Woman is the remarkable story of Gladys Alyward, an Englishwoman who became a missionary in China in the 1930s and 1940s. Gladys was known as Ai-weh-deh which meant "the virtuous one". She was there during the invasion by the Japanese, and rescued almost 100 children, and adopted 5. She led her life in prayer and service to God. Her fortitude and faith gained her the respect of many in China.
After nearly 20 years in China, she was able to return to England, where she continued to preach about Christianity.
My main concern with this book was that the pictures didn't correspond to the chapters where they were placed. Otherwise, this is a story of someone I had not known, and it was amazing to learn what she did.
#TheSmallWoman #AlanBurgess ( )

A great quest. ( )

NOTE The book was originally titled The Small Woman, and this was the title on the edition I read. However, I could not find the book in the GoodReads catalogue under that name, so chose this edition.

What an extraordinary woman Gladys Aylward was. In 1930 she left England for China entirely on her own volition. She had quit school at age 14, having never passed a single examination (per her own recollection), and had worked as a parlourmaid. But she felt called by God to become a missionary in China, and even though no established organization would consider her application she was determined to fulfill God’s wish. She heard of a lone woman, Mrs Lawson, working in a remote area of China who hoped to be able to pass along her work to a younger woman. So Gladys saved the fare for a third-class passage on the Trans-Siberia Express, and set out for China trusting that God would show her the way.

This biography was first published in 1957, and the edition I read had an epilogue, added in 1969. The book had by then been made into the popular movie Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman. Gladys, herself, never saw the film and didn’t understand why anyone would be interested in her life. I’m just glad she agreed to tell her story.
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