Synopsis "The Poetry of Frances Ridley Havergal"
This volume has the definitive 1884 Nisbet edition of Havergal's poems, and all of the other poems found in research for the new edition of The Complete Works of Frances Ridley Havergal. How does one describe F.R.H.'s poetry? Rich both in content and presentation, full of truth and love, probing thought conveyed with beautiful art. One contemporaneous reviewer of her first published book, The Ministry of Song, wrote this: "Genuine poetry. Many a bowed-down heart can in its pages be reminded of the way of peace, and of Him who can alone give that peace which the world cannot give, and in a way which is not the world's way."-Press and St. James's Chronicle. Another reviewer wrote, "Critical nicety and power of phrase, variety of treatment, wealth and naturalness, lucid exposition. The grace, tenderness, purity, and devotional spirit of Miss Havergal's volume will make it warmly welcomed wherever Christian song and Christian sentiment are loved and appreciated."-Morning Advertiser. One more reviewer wrote, "Pure and elevating thoughts, pleasant fancy, and musical verse; remarkable for originality of thought as well as for graceful treatment."-Literary World. Charles Spurgeon said: "There is a centre to every storm where perfect calm reigns. There is a point within the circle of the most consumeing flame where life is possible without any danger to its being consumed. Miss Havergal seems to me to have got into the very centre of the storms that are disturbing others, and abides in perfect peace. She seems to have penetrated to the very heart of God who is a consumeing fire, and rests absolutely in His love. She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God." In our own time, Rev. Iain H. Murray, founding trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust, wrote: "Frances Ridley Havergal was one of the most gifted poets ever to write for the Christian church. To this day some of her hymns are sung and loved all over the world, yet much of her no-less valuable writing and poetry has long been scarce and little known. I am thankful that the Havergal Trust has been founded to remedy this lack, and the Havergal books that they have already so attractively brought back into circulation deserve to be widely known. They show unusual natural gifts wedded to a strong evangelical theology, and like all the foremost Christian writers she speaks to the heart as well as to the mind.
