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Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold A. Dallimore
This book will meet the need of those completely ignorant of Spurgeon and his vast achievements, but will stir also the interest of all who value his unique ministry.
Paperback
First published February 28, 1984
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1600 people want to read
About the author
Arnold A. Dallimore
20 books29 followersArnold A. Dallimore (1911-1998) was born in Canada of British parents. He was pastor of the Baptist Church at Cottam, Ontario, for almost twenty-four years. During his studies at Central Baptist Seminary, Toronto, he was awakened to a life-long interest in the great evangelist George Whitefield, whose biography he was to write (2 volumes, published by the Trust). He also wrote biographies of Edward Irving, the forerunner of the charismatic movement, Susannah Wesley and C. H. Spurgeon, whose preaching at the Metropolitan Tabernacle was frequently attended by his maternal grandfather and his mother (as a small child).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
November 10, 2024
Fantastic. I can't believe I didn't read this sooner. Dallimore captures the gifting, humility, earnestness, and impact of one of the great preachers from Church History. Spurgeon's story made me long for a deeper walk with Christ, grateful for all a great preacher (and his church) could accomplish for the Lord, and rejoice how modern technology can help take that to the ends of the earth.
I also reflected on how in God's providence I've been blessed in countless ways by a strong gospel-proclaiming church community that is bearing fruit around the world. Praise be to God.
I also reflected on how in God's providence I've been blessed in countless ways by a strong gospel-proclaiming church community that is bearing fruit around the world. Praise be to God.
December 9, 2021
Very encouraging biography of the late, great Spurgeon. I was hooked throughout the book, it was quite a page-turner. An excellent initial summary of the man and his ministry. It was amazing to see how God worked through Spurgeon to grow and strengthen His church - grace upon grace poured out on so many. Dallimore, in his writing helps the reader foster a greater love for the true, biblical church. Some of the author's baptist convictions were displayed in his sadness over Spurgeon's moderate smoking and alcohol consumption. I enjoyed the book greatly, and look forward to reading more of Spurgeon's works in the future.
January 2, 2019
This is a great and inspiring biography of the Prince of Preachers - Charles Spurgeon!
One cannot overemphasize the stature of this man of God - he seems to tower over so many in his devotion to the Lord, productivity in Gospel ministry and preaching, and personal piety and character. However, with all of this going for Spurgeon, he was at the same time - just a man like the rest of us - with his own unique flaws and failures. His health, depression & anxiety and other weaknesses riddled his life and made him not just a larger-than-life figure, but helped us see his humanity.
Ultimately, there are no 'great men of God' only weak and pitiful sinners in the hands of a Great and amazingly gracious saviour! However, Spurgeon's life shows a unique blessing of God's grace and his story will continue to inspire many...
Dallimore's biography is a welcomed entry to the many other Spurgeon biographies. It is well written and organized. It was definitely an enjoyable read for my wife and I together. However, I wish that Dallimore would have spent more time expanding on Spurgeon's weaknesses, struggles and humanity. At times he can seem too titanic, too perfect and too stellar of a saintly example in Dallimore's biography that one wonders if this is an idealized version of Spurgeon. However, Dallimore does touch a bit on Spurgeon's human side... but I found this aspect of this biography lacking for my own tastes. I'd have liked to read more about Spurgeon's personal life as well - his relationship with his wife and children especially.
Perhaps there may be better, more thorough biographies of Spurgeon... but for what it's worth, Arnold Dallimore's biography is a well-worthwhile read! I'd highly recommend this book - especially to any Christian who hasn't read any biography of Spurgeon. His story and life lived totally to the glory of God and proclamation of His Word continues to inspire myself and many others!
One cannot overemphasize the stature of this man of God - he seems to tower over so many in his devotion to the Lord, productivity in Gospel ministry and preaching, and personal piety and character. However, with all of this going for Spurgeon, he was at the same time - just a man like the rest of us - with his own unique flaws and failures. His health, depression & anxiety and other weaknesses riddled his life and made him not just a larger-than-life figure, but helped us see his humanity.
Ultimately, there are no 'great men of God' only weak and pitiful sinners in the hands of a Great and amazingly gracious saviour! However, Spurgeon's life shows a unique blessing of God's grace and his story will continue to inspire many...
Dallimore's biography is a welcomed entry to the many other Spurgeon biographies. It is well written and organized. It was definitely an enjoyable read for my wife and I together. However, I wish that Dallimore would have spent more time expanding on Spurgeon's weaknesses, struggles and humanity. At times he can seem too titanic, too perfect and too stellar of a saintly example in Dallimore's biography that one wonders if this is an idealized version of Spurgeon. However, Dallimore does touch a bit on Spurgeon's human side... but I found this aspect of this biography lacking for my own tastes. I'd have liked to read more about Spurgeon's personal life as well - his relationship with his wife and children especially.
Perhaps there may be better, more thorough biographies of Spurgeon... but for what it's worth, Arnold Dallimore's biography is a well-worthwhile read! I'd highly recommend this book - especially to any Christian who hasn't read any biography of Spurgeon. His story and life lived totally to the glory of God and proclamation of His Word continues to inspire myself and many others!
February 7, 2024
2023 was my year for not writing reviews. This unintentional reality has left me looking back at books I've read and shrugging my shoulders at a few I can barely remember. Lesson learned (I hope) I'm still going back to attempt brief reviews on a few that stood out to me. Dallimore's Spurgeon: A New Biography was one of them.
Almost a year after first reading it, I still remember conversations and snippets from this book that impacted my life and continue to do so to this day. There are more voluminous books that go into detail and depths on Spurgeon's life and theology that Dallimore's work could not, due to length (though by no means a short book). However, he surveys the whole of Spurgeon's life and ministry in a powerful way that gives the details we need. It's readable and it's honest, not glorifying Spurgeon but also highlighting the immense impact he has had on the church for the gospel's sake. More than the individual stories that stood out to me, it was beautiful to see the whole of a life of a faithful man who lived and finished well.
This is a book I can see myself coming back to later as an accessible, thought-provoking and encouraging read.
Almost a year after first reading it, I still remember conversations and snippets from this book that impacted my life and continue to do so to this day. There are more voluminous books that go into detail and depths on Spurgeon's life and theology that Dallimore's work could not, due to length (though by no means a short book). However, he surveys the whole of Spurgeon's life and ministry in a powerful way that gives the details we need. It's readable and it's honest, not glorifying Spurgeon but also highlighting the immense impact he has had on the church for the gospel's sake. More than the individual stories that stood out to me, it was beautiful to see the whole of a life of a faithful man who lived and finished well.
This is a book I can see myself coming back to later as an accessible, thought-provoking and encouraging read.
July 18, 2015
Dr. Stevenson was the president of the Weslyeyan Conference during the days of Spurgeon. He was allowed to privilege do be one of the speakers at Spurgeon's funeral. As he gazed at the coffin that the body of the great Charles Haddon Spurgeon rested in he said, "I venture to suggest to you in reference to our dear friend who has gone...he rendered a great service to his age, and to the coming age also, in that he upheld during so long a time the majesty of preaching. Men say that preaching is played out and that the pulpit is superfluous. The editor is to be the great minister of God in the future, and people are to get the Gospel from the newspapers...But with that coffin before us, none of us can doubt that the pulpit is the power in the world still--that still by the foolishness of preaching God is pleased to save men." Spurgeon's labor for Christ is fascinating. Dallimore does a wonderful job in presenting it.
October 5, 2021
"Una vida para la gloria de Dios" así resumiría la vida de CH Spurgeon. Un hombre que la mano invisible del soberano lo llevó a leer puritanos desde los 10 años, a la fe en Jesucristo a los 15 y al pastorado a los 17. La gracia del Señor lo acompañó desde el principio, y le dio los dones y fortaleza para realizar una obra realmente increíble. Predicó las grandes doctrinas bíblicas, tales como los atributos de Dios, la soberanía de Dios y la oración (solo para dar unos ejemplos) pero sobre todas las cosas predicó a Jesucristo. A tiempo y fuera de tiempo, llamó e instó a todos a venir en fe a los pies del divino salvador. Un hombre de oración ferviente, con un amor hacia los pobres, huérfanos y viudas. En fin, Spurgeon es un gran ejemplo y motivación, Estoy seguro que será uno de mis grandes amigos en lo me resta de servicio al Señor.
July 29, 2022
At a loss of words. All I can think of is Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Lord raise up more men like Spurgeon!
Should be required reading for every pastor, let alone every Christian.
Should be required reading for every pastor, let alone every Christian.
January 3, 2024
Excellent book to start off the year. I am going into 2024 more on fire for Christ, and more invigorated to “ply the Trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem’s dilapidated walls, and wield the Sword with vigor and valor against the enemies of the truth.
May 26, 2025
Spurgeon is a giant in the Christian world! And Dallimore’s biography does him Justice. While each chapter could have been a full length book I really enjoyed this overview along with some stories about Spurgeon that I had never heard. Very well done
July 13, 2024
Dallimore does a commendable job of condensing the immense life and work of Charles Spurgeon into a readable and engaging account. His story is nothing short of inspirational, and I wish I could have heard him preach. For it seems that those who had the privilege of hearing Spurgeon preach at the Metropolitan Tabernacle left wondering at the beauty of Christ rather than the eloquence of the well-known preacher. I recommend this book to any Christian minister.
September 2, 2024
I have so much more respect for Spurgeon after reading this book. A great biography.
July 15, 2022
This is a fairly comprehensive biography, serving as more of an overview of the life of C.H. Spurgeon. Each chapter is short, but Dallimore includes some of the specific details around the people and events that impacted Spurgeon’s life.
Readers will learn from this book that Spurgeon worked hard for the Lord - he had a zealous evangelistic ministry through various means (books/tracts/mission work/local ministry), preached all over Europe, taught future pastors about God’s Word and ministry, and produced a ton of written content. Readers will also see that he had a wonderful wife who was by his side faithfully and sacrificially, all while dealing with many health issues. Spurgeon also dealt with a lot of health issues, which makes the work he did even more incredible. In the end, he is presented in this book as a champion for the faith, particularly the doctrines of grace, and as a soul winner.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Spurgeon, Baptist ministry and polity, and what lifelong, faithful ministry looks like during times of both revival and ‘downgrade’.
Readers will learn from this book that Spurgeon worked hard for the Lord - he had a zealous evangelistic ministry through various means (books/tracts/mission work/local ministry), preached all over Europe, taught future pastors about God’s Word and ministry, and produced a ton of written content. Readers will also see that he had a wonderful wife who was by his side faithfully and sacrificially, all while dealing with many health issues. Spurgeon also dealt with a lot of health issues, which makes the work he did even more incredible. In the end, he is presented in this book as a champion for the faith, particularly the doctrines of grace, and as a soul winner.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Spurgeon, Baptist ministry and polity, and what lifelong, faithful ministry looks like during times of both revival and ‘downgrade’.
December 11, 2025
4.5⭐️ I read this for class and it was surprisingly good! I didn't know much about Spurgeon prior to reading it and I am inspired by his deep humility, gospel centrality and whole-hearted devotion to God.
May 15, 2021
The book Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold Dallimore was an inspiring story of one of the best preachers of the nineteenth century. This book taught me we should be doing more to spread God’s Word; Spurgeon had a huge list of things he did to foster the Word, forming institutions, churches, colleges, orphanages, writing and preaching sermons, and more. Taking example from Spurgeon, we should be actively doing things that glorify God, as Spurgeon did.
This book is recommended to anyone who wants to know more about Charles Spurgeon and what he did, and for anyone seeking to be encouraged by the life of a godly man. Amongst other things, it will show you how to live a life wholly committed to being righteous, how to effectively preach, teach, evangelize, and send out others to spread God’s word, and more.
In closing, read Spurgeon and learn about the amazing Prince of Preachers.
May 26, 2023
First seminary book: done.
Spurgeon is the real deal, man. He valued the Gospel over everything, loved people dearly, fought for truth, and supported the city in a mighty way.
Spurgeon is the real deal, man. He valued the Gospel over everything, loved people dearly, fought for truth, and supported the city in a mighty way.
March 2, 2021
What an amazing servant of God Charles Spurgeon was. It's mind boggling to think how many people are in Heaven today as a result of being touched by his ministry directly during his lifetime, not even to mention since he left this life. If you have been blessed by Spurgeon's sermons or writings , you will likewise be blessed by this biography of his life.
February 12, 2016
Basically, if Spurgeon was half as righteous or humble as Dallimore made him out to be, he would burn this book. All glory was given to Spurgeon and to his skill and impressive charisma was accredited every salvation under his time in the pulpit. Dallimore was clearly star-struck and enamored by this man and wrote with an ardent bias. I felt that God was robbed of glory and honour and that Spurgeon, were he alive, would nod in agreement.
January 25, 2021
A wonderful treatment of Spurgeon's life. This is probably my most recommended book to those in my church on a church history figure. It was the book that God used to tug on my heart for pastoral ministry. Very highly recommended!
April 20, 2009
Excellent.
June 6, 2020
It is a peculiar experience when one reads a biography on an individual about whom he has come to know a great deal referentially. I had believed myself to be knowledgeable about the life, ministry and written works of Spurgeon and had thus conceived of a limited image of him as an influential 19th century preacher who wrote prolifically and inspired many a modern preacher. Upon picking up this book, I was so ignorant of the supernatural nature and abundance of his ministry that now I am left convinced he may rightly contend for the title of the most significant minister in the whole of church history.
Dallimore's Spurgeon is unyielding in his zeal for the work of Christ. I must admit I almost scoff in disbelief at the sheer volume of written material the man produced on top of his many other involvements. There appears in his life no wasted moment, no missed opportunity, no stone left unturned. Every minute of his life appears to have been spent doing the work of building up the kingdom of God, whether through the writing and distribution of sermons, the training of ministers, the ministry to the poor and orphans, administration of a church, or the many other roles Mr. Spurgeon held.
Admittedly I found myself often jealous of Spurgeon--jealous of the purity of his life and character, his unyielding devotion to Christ and the abundant fruits of his ministry. I see in him the answer to Dwight L. Moody's famous quote: "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him." Certainly Spurgeon (if not also Moody himself) endeavored to be such a man, one whose devotion to God shook the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to read about such men, viewing their life and legacy as an example of the extent to which God can use a man devoted fully to him. If you are seeking to be renewed in your love for Christ, in your pursuit of holiness, dear Christian, look to Spurgeon. Few humans have so incarnated His glory on this earth.
Dallimore's Spurgeon is unyielding in his zeal for the work of Christ. I must admit I almost scoff in disbelief at the sheer volume of written material the man produced on top of his many other involvements. There appears in his life no wasted moment, no missed opportunity, no stone left unturned. Every minute of his life appears to have been spent doing the work of building up the kingdom of God, whether through the writing and distribution of sermons, the training of ministers, the ministry to the poor and orphans, administration of a church, or the many other roles Mr. Spurgeon held.
Admittedly I found myself often jealous of Spurgeon--jealous of the purity of his life and character, his unyielding devotion to Christ and the abundant fruits of his ministry. I see in him the answer to Dwight L. Moody's famous quote: "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him." Certainly Spurgeon (if not also Moody himself) endeavored to be such a man, one whose devotion to God shook the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to read about such men, viewing their life and legacy as an example of the extent to which God can use a man devoted fully to him. If you are seeking to be renewed in your love for Christ, in your pursuit of holiness, dear Christian, look to Spurgeon. Few humans have so incarnated His glory on this earth.
June 16, 2024
C.H. Spurgeon is widely acclaimed as the ‘Prince of Preachers’ by countless evangelicals, and within this book by Dr. Dallimore, the Christian can grasp and see the depth of Spurgeon’s life and ministry. This was a man who the Gospel deeply moved to proclaim salvation towards sinners and strong Calvinist doctrine; yet, this was a man of prayer who battled countless trials and temptations and overcame by the grace of God. I personally think everyone should read this book once so that they may be stirred to say, as D.L. Moody said of Spurgeon, “If God can use this man, He most certainly can use you and I in the ministry of the Gospel.”
February 25, 2024
Spurgeon led a life of remarkable ministry. Some notable takeaways for me.
His zeal for evangelism.
His love for books.
His profound, simple, straightforward preaching. He manifested a great love for mankind. He despised the unclear preaching so common in his day and instead sought a forthright and plain approach. “He dealt with some of the grandest and deepest matters known to the human mind…but in his discourses he gave those vast truths a simplification that rendered them grippingly understandable to the common man.”
Prayer as a habit of mind.
Top tier biography, well written and enjoyable read.
His zeal for evangelism.
His love for books.
His profound, simple, straightforward preaching. He manifested a great love for mankind. He despised the unclear preaching so common in his day and instead sought a forthright and plain approach. “He dealt with some of the grandest and deepest matters known to the human mind…but in his discourses he gave those vast truths a simplification that rendered them grippingly understandable to the common man.”
Prayer as a habit of mind.
Top tier biography, well written and enjoyable read.
June 5, 2024
This is a must read. I have been deeply convicted concerning prayer and evangelism especially by the prayer life and preaching of Charles Spurgeon.
“…when you see my coffin carried to the silent grave, I should like every one of you, whether converted or not, to be constrained to say ‘He did earnestly urge us, in plain and simple language, not to put off the consideration of eternal things. He did entreat us to look to Christ. Now he is gone, our blood is not at his door if we perish.’” -CH Spurgeon
“…when you see my coffin carried to the silent grave, I should like every one of you, whether converted or not, to be constrained to say ‘He did earnestly urge us, in plain and simple language, not to put off the consideration of eternal things. He did entreat us to look to Christ. Now he is gone, our blood is not at his door if we perish.’” -CH Spurgeon
October 6, 2024
This biography of Charles H. Spurgeon covers his extraordinary life. Many of Spurgeon’s writings and those of his contemporaries are quoted. He spoke consistently of faith in Jesus Christ as the basis of salvation and shared this good news through the church he led in London. Spurgeon’s impact was known far and wide.
October 15, 2021
Though very much a hagiography, this is a wonderful explanation of one of the greatest men of Victorian England. Spurgeon’s influence reached all classes of London and his boldest for Christ was unparalleled. Even today, the “Prince of Preachers” is greatly respected and honored.
December 16, 2025
What a life! The highest joys, clearest sights of eternity, deepest sorrows, & communal love are found in the Calvary road of life where to live is Christ and to die is gain!
(I enjoyed Lloyd-Jones' biography more, but that might be because it's that tiredness that comes towards the latter end of the year).
(I enjoyed Lloyd-Jones' biography more, but that might be because it's that tiredness that comes towards the latter end of the year).
January 13, 2020
Amazing.
February 27, 2023
Definitely piqued my interest about Spurgeon and his wife Susannah. It’s amazing to read about the ways God blessed and used their ministry.
February 26, 2024
This is a fantastic book about Spurgeon and his devotion to the Lord. This is a must read for any man in ministry.
July 11, 2018
Best secondary source I've read on Spurgeon. Outstanding! Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews