***** 5 stars
Engaging narrative... the story of a pioneering woman who not only challenged society's ideals, but in spite of her famous surname, lived by her own rules. An inspiring read.
* The Lady *
[Grace] was a really feisty woman. I enjoyed the sweep of history through an ordinary person's life ... and the sense of the bigger picture through her eyes. * BBC Radio 2 - Good Morning Sunday *
The book's author, Guinness, is an eminently experienced writer...who tells Grace Grattan Guinness's story with considerable elegance and lightness of touch. Grace is an interesting and engaging read. * The Irish Independent *
Grace presents a fictionalised woman of wit, vivacity, and extra-ordinary forthrightness.... Whether she ever thought her story would be written is another matter... but I rather think she would have liked it. * The Church Times *
Grace Grattan Guinness offers us a warm, sparkling insight into the Victorian evangelistic revival in this book. Her personal diaries and letters tell an engaging story... She also experienced and comments on important events and themes of her time... she brings these to life with wry humour in a way that few history books manage. * Christianity Magazine *
In her beautifully written and skillfully curated book, Michele gives voice to Grace, a remarkable woman living through extraordinary times. Michele deftly captures her story and her passion with finesse, introducing us to a woman perhaps born before her time, yet ready to embrace the world around her and live life to the full. * Jo Saxton - Author and Director of 3DM *
Michele was live on Premier Radio and read an extract of the book: * Premier Radio *
I really enjoyed it... I was fascinated by the story of the young wife of Henry Grattan Guinness...we take for granted the fact that women can vote and have jobs, but Grace was there at the beginning of it all. * Families First Magazine *
I found this life-story, told autobiographically with the aid of intimately honest diaries, absolutely enthralling. Grace is the free-spirited Victorian (now there's an oxymoron for you!) who falls passionately in love with Henry, old enough to be her grandfather and illustrious in evangelical dynasty and fame.
Like the prophetess Anna, she lives ever thankful for the seven years of marriage she enjoys before she is widowed and develops her own spiritual identity,contending for her own freedom as a woman, and maintaining a deep love for her family despite financial stringencies, alongside a keen interest in world affairs. She lives through two world wars and under four monarchs.
But it is more than a love story and a tale of one woman's glorious survival in a society struggling to come to terms with equality; this is a fascinating document of Evangelical history from the nineteenth century revival on, of the missional urge to reach the unreached against all odds, the spiritual call to change culture for Christ (she much admired Emmeline Pankhurst) and the active involvement of the thoughtful Christian in daily life (she was an ardent letter writer to the press!) As all Michele's works, this one too is so well written and the touches of humour are abundant. I loved it and I loved Grace!
* Anne Coles *
Delightful... Grace provides an unusual and engaging route into women's history and writing and into evangelisism in in late-Victorian and Edwardian Britain * The Church Times *
An interesting read [...] accessible to many. * Evangelical Times *
