I’ve written in the past about the cultural references from my childhood that I can no longer use. People who were once wildly popular are now unheard of. If this happens within a couple of decades then certainly there are characters from the past whose buried story deserves to be unearthed.
Hannah More is one of those characters. In her day all of London would have recognized the name Hannah More. She was a well known poet, an educational reformer, and a passionate abolitionist. Karen Swallow Prior has begun the great work of unearthing the story of this phenomenal woman in her biography Fierce Convictions.
Karen Swallow Prior is a terrific author and this book is well written. I wanted to take a look at this book because of Hannah More’s relationship with John Newton. Being a pastor and seminary student with tons of other reading to do, I expected to track More’s relationship with Newton and then put the book down. But the writing was so good and the story so compelling that I gave it a more thorough reading.
One of my professors jokes that his wife has been married to three different men—all him. Though she was never married, I think the same type of joke could be told of Hannah More. As a poet alone her body of work would have been enough to necessitate a biography. But More also gave herself to education reform, women’s rights, and abolition. Her story is interesting and compelling and Dr. Prior tells it wonderfully.
As far as her relationship to Newton I did not learn a ton directly. But what this book helped me with is getting a good feel for the state of the nation during the abolition and during Newton’s time as a pastor in London. It always enriches my reading of Newton whenever I have a good grasp of the cultural issues he was facing as he wrote. This biography on More sets that time period to life for me.
I’m not sure how wide the audience for this book will be, but it was a rewarding experience and would be an interesting read for anyone. If you are one who loves the history of the 18th century then you’ll certainly want to pick up this book.
I also would be remiss to not include the wonderful way in which Hannah More’s faith impacted her passion for societal transformation. I believe we have a good deal to learn from More in our day, and so I’m glad that an able writer has dusted this wonderful character off and told her story in the 21st century.
You can purchase the book here.
