Gipsy Smith: His Life and Work

by Gipsy Smith

Complete and unabridged. Completely re-typeset in nice, readable type by Kingsley Press. This autobiography of Gipsy Smith (1860-1947) tells the fascinating story of how God's amazing grace reached down into the life of a poor, uneducated gipsy boy and sent him singing and preaching all over Britain and America until he became a household name in many parts and influenced the lives of millions for Christ. He was born and raised in a gipsy tent to parents who made a living selling baskets, tinware and clothes pegs. His father was in and out of jail for various offences, but was gloriously converted during an evangelistic meeting. His mother died when he was only five years old. Converted at the age of sixteen, Gipsy taught himself to read and write and began to practice preaching. His beautiful singing voice earned him the nickname "the singing gipsy boy," as he sang hymns to the people he met. At age seventeen he became an evangelist with the Christian Mission (which became the Salvation Army) and began to attract large crowds. Leaving the Salvation Army in 1882, he became an itinerant evangelist working with a variety of organizations. It is said that he never had a meeting without conversions. He was a born orator. One of the Boston papers described him as "the greatest of his kind on earth, a spiritual phenomenon, an intellectual prodigy and a musical and oratorical paragon." His autobiography is full of anedotes and stories from his preaching experiences in many different places. It's a book you won't want to put down until you're finished!

Genres: Biography

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1902

About the author

Rodney "Gipsy" Smith - a British evangelist who conducted evangelistic campaigns in the United States and Great Britain for over 70 years.

Reviews

[Nikolas Larum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book as part of my ongoing research for my next Gypsy Spy novel. Originally published in 1901, it is the autobiography of Rodney Smith penned when he was just forty year's of age and still had 30+ years of ministry ahead of him. The simplicity of the composition and archaicness of some of its language is part of its charm. Mr. Smith's retelling of his life and missions up to the time of publication is honest and without guile. I found myself laughing frequently and near tears often as his tenderhearted presentation of the Gospel shines through the retelling of his life. The challenges he faced as an underprivileged, uneducated, tent-dwelling, caravan-travelling English Gypsy boy who desired nothing more than to preach the Gospel were many indeed. How the Lord worked through this dedicated and humble servant is inspiring to say the least.

Smith was involved in much of the revival work occurring through the early years of the Salvation Army and the different Methodist and Weslayan outreaches that were occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The dedication of men and women such as himself is a tremendous reminder of the need and cost of reaching others for Christ. If you are interested in evangelistic work, church history, or English Gypsy culture at the turn of the last century then this book is for you.

[Jeanette Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was more about what Gypsy Smith did and less about about what God did through him. I actually couldn't finish reading it.

[Adrian Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first pages about the death of his mother are very moving. Somehow the pages about his later missions lack the same impact.

[D McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book about someone who truly gave their life to sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ

[Charles Smith]

A beautiful book about a trophy of Grace for the Lord Jesus Christ. His life is what God can do thru a person who is totally in love with God. Should be mandatory reading for every Christian to learn about this evangelist whose life covers from Victorian England to the Atomic Age. He was the last of the great Evangelists.