Christianity Today magazine gave FIERCE CONVICTIONS its 2014 Book Award in the Her.meneutics category. Her.meneutics? It’s a play on words, turning a theological term, referring to biblical interpretation, into a category of writing about women’s issues. It was a worthy choice for the award, as the book is an engaging and informative read, a biography that introduces the generations of this new century to the influential life and work of a remarkable British reformer: Hannah More (1745-1833).

Good biographies give insight into their subjects’ journey to notoriety, whether that be for noble or ignoble reasons. Hannah’s childhood, shrouded in some mystery, included a basic education --- her father being a school teacher who did not have university training. As a teen, she took classes and then taught at a “School for Young Ladies” launched in Bristol in 1758 by her older sisters. The school was targeting an untapped market: daughters of a new middle class forming from tradespeople, including those in the theater. “The school eventually became renowned throughout the country.” And “the More sisters were lauded for their financial management, high principles, and general benevolence.”

"...an engaging and informative read, a biography that introduces the generations of this new century to the influential life and work of a remarkable British reformer: Hannah More (1745-1833)."

From her early days, Hannah, the fourth of five sisters who ran the school --- none of whom ever married --- had a gift for what is now called networking. School field trips and students’ familial connections introduced Hannah to theatrical personages and encouraged an interest in writing, for instance a “prologue to a spoken performance of HAMLET.” One engaging relationship led to another, in Bristol and then in London, until she was dining with men and women of influence and means. “Her early writing talents were cultivated by a community of patrons, friends, and admirers, many of whom possessed the authority and means with which to promote the fruit of her toils… She gained widespread admiration…for her powers of conversation, her demonstrated wisdom and modesty, and her rich imagination.” 

Her writing, literary and political connections, and increasingly fervent religious convictions thrust her into the frontlines (at least as far as a woman could venture) of the British abolitionist campaign, and later she advocated against inhumane treatment of animals --- bullbaiting, cockthrowing and dogfighting being popular amusements. In midlife she had moved to the country, near the small village of Cheddar. The retreat from city social life didn’t isolate her as much as she might have planned. Spurred (and funded) by MP William Wilberforce, she established a circuit of Sunday schools for children --- and later adults --- that transformed British culture as forerunners of public schools. This was before childhood labor laws; impoverished children generally worked six days a week and wreaked hooligan havoc on Sundays. But now “in addition to reading, basic arithmetic, Bible lessons, and the catechism, knitting and spinning were taught to make the students more employable.” The social implications were monumental, shrinking the gap between the poor and the rich, and giving moral expectations to the young, some say ushering in the Victorian age.

Oh, there is so much more to say. More managed all this while dealing with health issues, possibly migraines. She encountered severe criticism from the very Anglican Church that she ardently supported; one of her school teachers was a proponent of extemporaneous prayer. For details and an overview of her influence in effecting British reform, unlike the French violent revolution, well, you’ll want to find a copy of FIERCE CONVICTIONS.