John Keddie has produced a short biography of Eric Liddell aimed primarily at children from 7-14 but an enjoyable read for a busy adult and accessible enough that my five year old enjoyed having portions read to her. Middle Son, aged 11, liked the book enough to read it in the car-an unusual event.
Liddell was born to missionaries in China but educated in London, at Eltham College. The description of the six year old having to part from his family brought tears to my eyes. Can you imagine leaving a six year old for several years?
The most famous part of Liddell's life was his refusal to run on a Sunday in the 1924 Paris Olympics because he wanted to keep the whole of Sunday as the Lord's Day. This meant that he was unable to take part in his chosen event, 100m. Liddell instead took part in a less favoured option, the 400m, and went on to secure gold and set a new world record. However, the latter part of the book, and of the life, is probably just as fascinating as well as being less well known. Liddell was humble and willing to forego fame and wealth to serve his Lord.
There are a couple of minor things that would improve this book further. We are told that Liddell professed faith as a teenager but little more about this-it may be that little is known but I would have liked to have known more. A sketch map of China would have been useful-many of the locations were unknown to me without a map.
My thoughts-definitely worth reading and a definite challenge to honour the Lord God above all else.
Finish the race-Eric Liddell by John Keddie was provided by Christian Focus for this review. The opinions are my own.
Finish the race is obtainable from Christian Focus and Christian Bookshop Ossett.
I am very interested to see that this is in a book for children now. My husband will be pleased to see this. Eric Liddell has been a favourite biography of his for a while. Thank you for sharing.
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