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Until the Day Breaks: Life and Work of Lilias Trotter
Trotter was a pioneer missionary to Muslim North Africa
222 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1990
6 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Patricia St. John
96 books246 followersPatricia Mary St. John spent 27 years as a dedicated missionary to North Africa - and was also a prolific children's writer. Her books are loved and treasured around the world; some have been turned into stirring films. Gripping adventures which cover real life issues are her hallmark.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 29, 2008
I haven't read a book that has so moved me in a very long time. . . . .
It brought tears to my eyes, and what is more important, to my heart. The life of Lillias Trotter is a delight, a refreshing tale of obedience, bravery, overwhelming love, hardship, oppression, but I think that the defining factor of her life was obedience and a constant looking to our Heavenly Father for guidance.
Inspiring to say the least.
It brought tears to my eyes, and what is more important, to my heart. The life of Lillias Trotter is a delight, a refreshing tale of obedience, bravery, overwhelming love, hardship, oppression, but I think that the defining factor of her life was obedience and a constant looking to our Heavenly Father for guidance.
Inspiring to say the least.
February 4, 2017
Lovely, lovely biography of an amazing woman, brimming with diary extracts to read slowly and turn over in your mind.
July 18, 2022
Although it took me a ridiculously long time to get through this book, I did actually enjoy it! I had never read anything about Lilias Trotter and I was struck by her love for the Lord, her great faith, and the laying down of her life in service to God and to the people of Algeria.
What I loved most about this book was the many excerpts from Lilias’s journals. She was a true artist and found beauty everywhere! She was incredibly insightful, always seeing parables in nature and connecting them to God working in His people. Her faith was remarkable. She was willing and happy to pour her life out, only seeing minimal results. Lilias trusted God to bring the harvest in His timing, even if she didn’t live to see it. She was faithful to the end.
What I didn’t love about this book is that reading it was a bit of a chore. The most frustrating thing to me was the amount of names…both the Algerian people Lilias reached and fellow workers were just listed out throughout the book little to no detail to remember them. Often times they were listed just once and never mentioned again, other times they were important people who would show up again and I needed to remember. The style of writing seemed choppy and at times a bit like record keeping. In my opinion it was not the most compelling way to tell Lilias’s story.
On a different note, I was very surprised at the number of women who worked in Algeria and the lack of men. Though they did have some men working alongside them, they were few and far between—and desperately needed. I wonder if this was an issue in Lilias’s particular denomination (she was associated with the Keswick movement) or a problem in the church at large in her day. It made me think of the church’s similar need today-for the Lord to raise up strong, godly men to lead!
A few of Lilas’s excerpts have stayed with me and continue to challenge/encourage me. This one in particular challenges my faith and trust, and spurs me on to walk by faith, and not by sight.
“Jesus does not explain. If you are to enjoy a close walk with God you will have to leave many things unexplained…He strengthens faith, reveals His character through wonders and miracles and then says, ‘Go and tell John about it.’ I know of no hours more trying then when Jesus multiplies His signs elsewhere, but does not use it on our behalf, when He sends you His message, ‘I can do it, but trust Me when I don’t do it.’ This is the point where hearts break, when the messengers come back and say, ‘yes, He is all you thought, but He said no word about taking you out of prison.’ These are the hours that, in eternity, we will study with delight and amazement; no explanation, faith in spite of prison, doors left closed, and then the message: ‘Blessed is he who is not offended in Me’” -Lilias Trotter
What I loved most about this book was the many excerpts from Lilias’s journals. She was a true artist and found beauty everywhere! She was incredibly insightful, always seeing parables in nature and connecting them to God working in His people. Her faith was remarkable. She was willing and happy to pour her life out, only seeing minimal results. Lilias trusted God to bring the harvest in His timing, even if she didn’t live to see it. She was faithful to the end.
What I didn’t love about this book is that reading it was a bit of a chore. The most frustrating thing to me was the amount of names…both the Algerian people Lilias reached and fellow workers were just listed out throughout the book little to no detail to remember them. Often times they were listed just once and never mentioned again, other times they were important people who would show up again and I needed to remember. The style of writing seemed choppy and at times a bit like record keeping. In my opinion it was not the most compelling way to tell Lilias’s story.
On a different note, I was very surprised at the number of women who worked in Algeria and the lack of men. Though they did have some men working alongside them, they were few and far between—and desperately needed. I wonder if this was an issue in Lilias’s particular denomination (she was associated with the Keswick movement) or a problem in the church at large in her day. It made me think of the church’s similar need today-for the Lord to raise up strong, godly men to lead!
A few of Lilas’s excerpts have stayed with me and continue to challenge/encourage me. This one in particular challenges my faith and trust, and spurs me on to walk by faith, and not by sight.
“Jesus does not explain. If you are to enjoy a close walk with God you will have to leave many things unexplained…He strengthens faith, reveals His character through wonders and miracles and then says, ‘Go and tell John about it.’ I know of no hours more trying then when Jesus multiplies His signs elsewhere, but does not use it on our behalf, when He sends you His message, ‘I can do it, but trust Me when I don’t do it.’ This is the point where hearts break, when the messengers come back and say, ‘yes, He is all you thought, but He said no word about taking you out of prison.’ These are the hours that, in eternity, we will study with delight and amazement; no explanation, faith in spite of prison, doors left closed, and then the message: ‘Blessed is he who is not offended in Me’” -Lilias Trotter
January 8, 2017
I don't know if the stars are for the writing or the object of the story. This book is a delicate view into the Life of a beautiful life dedicated to God and the people he gave for her to steward. It is articulate and masterfully written. It humbled me in many ways.
October 25, 2024
This biography is fantastic.
I have known of Lilias Trotter for nearly a decade.
I was introduced to her via the documentary Many Beautiful Things and was inspired by her life story. I’ve previously read Miriam Rockness’ good but very dense biography of Lilias’ life “A Passion For The Impossible”
This biography however is what I would recommend first and foremost to anyone interested in Lilias or missionary biographies in general!
It conveys Lilias’ heart and life in a captivating way. Patricia St. John is a fantastic writer, and she makes wonderful use of Ms. trotter’s journals which she quotes from extensively.
St. John also has a special kinship with Trotter as they were both missionaries to the Muslim people in Africa.
The only negative about the book is that it seems to be out of print now. So back to EBay I go to snatch up a few copies for friends/family that I know will love this book and be encouraged to live a more devoted life for Christ as a result of reading it.
I have known of Lilias Trotter for nearly a decade.
I was introduced to her via the documentary Many Beautiful Things and was inspired by her life story. I’ve previously read Miriam Rockness’ good but very dense biography of Lilias’ life “A Passion For The Impossible”
This biography however is what I would recommend first and foremost to anyone interested in Lilias or missionary biographies in general!
It conveys Lilias’ heart and life in a captivating way. Patricia St. John is a fantastic writer, and she makes wonderful use of Ms. trotter’s journals which she quotes from extensively.
St. John also has a special kinship with Trotter as they were both missionaries to the Muslim people in Africa.
The only negative about the book is that it seems to be out of print now. So back to EBay I go to snatch up a few copies for friends/family that I know will love this book and be encouraged to live a more devoted life for Christ as a result of reading it.
December 13, 2025
I loved reading about the life of Lilias Trotter; what an amazing woman. I had not read anything by or about her prior to this book, except the week before I watched the film, Many Beautiful Things, which was a great introduction to her.
I already am a big fan of Patricia St. John's writing, especially her children's books, so this made sense as a place to start.
Lilias Trotter gave up her art career with John Ruskin, to be a missionary to the Muslims in the 1900s. She reminds me much of Amy Carmichael, another single missionary who went to India in the same time period. The lives of both these women are very challenging to our comfortable American lifestyles. Lots to think about.
I already am a big fan of Patricia St. John's writing, especially her children's books, so this made sense as a place to start.
Lilias Trotter gave up her art career with John Ruskin, to be a missionary to the Muslims in the 1900s. She reminds me much of Amy Carmichael, another single missionary who went to India in the same time period. The lives of both these women are very challenging to our comfortable American lifestyles. Lots to think about.
June 23, 2017
I am struggling to find just the right words for how I feel about this book. I think I will keep it simple: I don't think I will ever be quite the same after reading of the beautiful, faithful, obedient, sacrificial life of Lilias Trotter. She has moved me, challenged me. And I imagine her writings (included throughout the book) will stay with me a long, long time.
April 4, 2022
So much of this biography is excerpts from Lilias' diary, and Lilias is a lovely writer herself. We were moved, encouraged and convicted.
December 13, 2025
The best biography of Lilias Trotter out there. There aren't many, but St. John's is my favorite.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews