Wayland ISBN 9780750295956 £12.99
Her small frame instantly recognisable, Mother Teresa became one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the twentieth century, though such fame was of constant concern to her. Born to an Albanian family in modern day Macedonia, the young Gonxha, as she was named, soon felt drawn to the missionary work described by the Jesuit priests in charge of her parish. Despite her family’s concerns, she determined to leave behind her relatively comfortable life in order join an order of nuns and their work in India. She soon found herself in Kolkata, teaching in two schools, but it was the extreme poverty and need she witnessed outside the walls which instigated a second calling.
Within ten years she had begun her own religious order: the Missionaries of Charity. Guided by the principles of love, dignity and humility, Mother Teresa and her growing band of nuns were committed to providing the poorest of the poor and outcasts such as lepers with dignity and care in a safe and loving environment. Success bred success and with the Pope’s sanction, the order became international with new houses in several countries. Never happy in the public eye, Mother Teresa tolerated her growing fame and the need to travel with her message if it would raise funds for her cause. Thus Paul Harrison relates the facts of this extraordinary woman’s life and achievements including her path towards sainthood. Each double page spread with its photographs and sub-titled straightforward text deals with different aspects of her life. Additional fact boxes and a glossary help to clarify terms and ideas. This is an excellent biography and should be in every school library.
Sue Barrett, former primary deputy head and senior lecturer in Primary Education at CCCU