Catherine Booth

Catherine Booth: From Timidity to Boldness tells the story of Catherine Booth's dramatic early life, and how a timid young woman rose from a home damaged by alcohol to become a dynamic and popular preacher, campaigner for the rights of women and, with her husband, founder of The Salvation Army. Author David Malcolm Bennett has spent much of his life studying Catherine and William Booth and the early days of The Salvation Army. He makes significant and revealing use of the letters that Catherine and William Booth wrote to each other, the letters she wrote to her parents, and Catherine's diary and reminiscences. It is the first biography of Catherine Booth to make use of the complete transcribed editions of each of these works. In Catherine Booth: From Timidity to Boldness, Catherine is allowed to speak for herself and what she says is frequently dynamic and, at different times, insightful, deeply spiritual, and, occasionally, controversial.

Review :
David Malcolm Bennett's Catherine Booth: From Timidity to Boldness has again investigated, to a very deep level, the life of another remarkable person of the Victorian era. In a sense, he has 'lifted the bonnet' on the characteristics and influences of Catherine Booth, who was to become 'Mother of The Salvation Army'. Bennett's use of primary sources is refreshing and allowed him to uncover influences upon Booth's life and ministry not previously discovered. The book reveals the humanity of Booth even through her spiritual struggles and the steps through her faith journey. To read Booth's life in her own words is powerful. Using contemporary research and historical documents, Bennett grappled with inconsistencies of previous biographies to paint a clearer picture of events and personalities. His evaluation of sources is done in a thorough, yet kindly analytical, and non-critical manner. It is clear Bennett knows his subject matter, and although scholarly sound, it is written in an easy manner for the general populous to read. This book cements David Malcolm Bennett as one of the very few experts on both Catherine Booth and her husband, General William Booth. Garth R. Hentzschel, Executive Editor, The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History 'A fascinating journey into the early life of one of the most under-appreciated Christian evangelists in history. A woman who grew from a sickly, studious child into one of England's first women preachers, a quiet tour-de force who simultaneously shocked Victorian church and society, and with her husband inspired a whole new Christian 'movement' which now reaches around the world and helps and supports millions of people every day. Thanks to David Malcolm Bennett, Catherine Booth emerges from the shadows of time and her husband William to be recognised and appreciated in her own right as an extraordinary preacher, teacher, writer, motivator, prayer warrior and spiritual mother. In these pages Catherine's story, deep Christian faith and intellect reaches beyond her own time to inspire not just today's Salvation Army members, volunteers and friends but anyone who believes that God can use even the frailest of souls and create something remarkable' Cathy Le Feuvre - Author & broadcaster Author 'William & Catherine..the love story of the founders of The Salvation Army told through their letters' (Monarch Books 2013)