A Blossom in the Desert

by I. Lilias Trotter, Miriam Huffman Rockness (Editor)

In Lilias Trotter's biography, A Passion for the Impossible, you learned that she became a missionary in Algeria during the Victorian era, and, as a British woman, faced seemingly insurmountable challenges sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

You also learned that she was one of England's promising artists, a career she gave up to follow God's call to take the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ to the Arabs of Northern Africa. But Lilias never abandoned her artistic talent, and now you can enjoy page after page of inspiring artwork, with all the vivid colors and characer of the Algerian landscape, complete with her own thoughts and spiritual wisdom. 

A Blossom in the Desert is truly a book that belongs on your coffee table, to give you encouragement time and again as you ponder Lilias's challenges and how she persevered to inspire the song, "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus."

This hardcover gift book is 240 pages of full color, inspirational art, and meditations, with a satin bookmark.

Genres: Faith, Nonfiction, Christian, Biography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Isabella Lilias Trotter was an artist, author, and a Christian missionary for over 38 years to the Muslims of Algeria.

Reviews

[Catherine Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently using this book in my quiet times and meditating on it page by page. It is one of the most amazing books I've ever had the joy to live in - Lilias Trotter is one of my heroes - another Hebrews 13:7 example. She lived and breathed in the audience of God, for the King alone.

[Jenny Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - Lilias has become a spiritual mother to me this year. Highly recommend this collection of paintings and quotations, as well as the biographical film “Many Beautiful Things,” about the life and work of Lilias Trotter.

[Emily H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stretched this book out for half the year to truly soak it in & it is without question one of my all-time favorites for reflections on faith. Lilias Trotter is a goldmine of wisdom and I want to train my eye to see through Creation into eternity the way she does. I am sure I will revisit these pages countless times.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a perfect coffee table book, full of art and beautiful thoughts.
I got it from the library so I didn't read the entire thing but skipped through it.
Having the background of the biography was helpful to understand the short thoughts and having this book is a great addition of the biography to see more of her art.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Lillian Trotters art and writing, but did NOT like the formatting of the book. Busy and distracting from Lillian’ work. Often there were as many as 6 different fonts on a single spread, including over the art. It was visually very distracting and harder to focus on her art and writing.

[Judith]

See Noel Piper's review at
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1171/

[Lisa Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spectacularly beautiful. Words and art both. A real treasure.

[Chesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful devotional compiled from the writings and art of Lilias Trotter (1853-1928). Wonderful, wonderful book. Lilias Trotter saw the world with the eye of an artist and could see messages of God through image and metaphor. A ten-star devotional classic. A few excerpts below:

***

Today’s “first lesson” was in these little mountain paths. I followed mine only a few yards further this morning and such an outburst of beauty came. You can never tell to what untold glories a little humble path may lead, if you follow far enough.

***

Take the very hardest thing in your life—the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that very spot. Just there He can bring your soul into blossom!

***

All the more beautiful will be God’s triumph when it comes. The highest music is not the music where all goes on simple and straight and sweet, but where discord suddenly resolves tensions with harmony.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. Lilias artwork is exquisite, so moving. Coupled with her writings it is a delight to own. I really enjoyed each painting, and reading the devotional thoughts has been a blessing to my quiet time. So glad to have found this book, and just wish there were more copies out there so I could gift it to all my friends.

The documentary, “Many Beautiful Things” available on YouTube is an excellent introduction to Lilias and Miriam, and then this volume gratified my desire to see more of her art. I found that the writing was best taken in bits, not read through quickly. Deep thoughts to meditate on.

[Kyleigh Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this to have a collection of Lilias's paintings to use for homeschool picture study. It's a wonderful collection of paintings, but as a book to read, the smattering of texts is only an often encouraging but sometimes odd glimpse of what's contained in her books and essays. Still, it's good to whet your appetite for something more from her like Parables of the Cross, The Master of the Impossible, or The Way of the Seven-Fold Secret.

[Maribeth Van loon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book serves as a lovely devotional appetizer to the works of Lilias Trotter, a heroine of the faith and captivating artist. It is meant to be savored in small bites. As others have written in their reviews, enjoy it alongside the movie made about her and then, as I intend, look for more of her writings and art.

[Ruth Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this is not a coherent book. It is another compilation of Lilias Trotter's artwork along with many random quotes from her writings, which I am afraid falls short of capturing the intensity and beauty of her love towards those around her as well as her devotion to her dear God.

[Ayden Tilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of paintings and poems, packed with Biblical truths, presented in such an artistic and eloquent way. It is so neat to imagine what Trotter’s life might have been like in a foreign country, writing and drawing the things she saw and lived.

[Rebekah Barkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilias Trotter was a gifted artist who gave up a promising career to devote her entire life to the people of Algeria and Northern Africa. However, she continued to create beautiful art and along with her personal writings, this book showcases the two. Truly a treasure—the art itself is stunning.

[Welles Bristol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful sketches and watercolors as well as biography of this truly unusual missionary. The sleuthing of the editor was also fun to hear!

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a great documentary about her called Many Beautiful Things. I watched it first and was inspired to read more.
This book has many of her paintings and devotional/journal entries.

[Shannon Shockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning art paired with profound spiritual insight. I will come back to this again and again!!!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilias teaches me about the joy of saying Yes to God. I am thankful for this sweet book of nuggets from her journals and writings, as well as her compelling art work.

[J. Amill Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good quotes and great art.

[Monica Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, Lilias was a very talented, lovely, and kind lady. She enjoyed sharing Jesus with others.

[Stephanie Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Blossom in the Desert" is filled with wonderful devotional thoughts and illustrations by Lilias Trotter, who lived in the second half of the 19th century. It is so beautiful and thought provoking that I finished it in two sittings!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art with beautiful ideas. So often life involves blooming in a desert, only possible with God's providential care.

[Lori Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful in words and pictures

[Rye Thomasdatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet collection of very short writings, quotes and art of Trotter. It is edited to perfection. A real joy to peruse. It is basically your new favorite published nature journal.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted to the watercolors in this book not so much its text. Interesting story of a woman trained in painting by Ruskin who goes on to be a missionary.