William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter

Trailblazers

by Derick Bingham

From the book:
'No! No! cried the little boy, 'Please no! I want to stay with my Mother!' 'Be quiet!' shouted the man who roughly pulled his mother from him. She was taken to a raised platform and offered for sale, immediately. The heart-broken mother was to be separated from her little boy for the rest of her life. This was the fate of thousands of women and children in the days before slavery was abolished. One man fought to bring freedom and relief from the terrors of the slave trade; it took him forty-five years. His name was William Wilberforce. This is his exciting story that shows the amazing effect his faith in Christ and his love for people had on transforming a nation.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Christian

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Derick Bingham is a teaching pastor with Christ Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has written over twenty books and broadcasts weekly for TransWorld Radio into Europe and the Middle East. He is a director on the board of the New Irish Choir and Orchestra and travels internationally teaching and preaching the Scriptures. He lives in Belfast with his wife Margaret.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"The world owes him the abolition of slavery and England owes him the reformation of manners."

What a thorough exploration of William Wilberforce's amazing life!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most literary biography of Wilberforce, but a suitable and enjoyable one nonetheless. Perfect for upper elementary and middle grades and a great introduction to an important 18th century political figure and Christian! This is an interesting read particularly if your children are also studying this same time period in their history class (it's good to see what Christians were doing about the slave trade on the other side of the Atlantic while America was going through its own birth pains). Note: these biographies have great back matter, including discussion questions and timelines. That boosts their "star" rating for me.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful book, but there are almost no details on what drove Wilberforce to oppose the slave trade. Was it just because he wanted to imitate Newton? Was it just because slaves weren't treated well, so that if they were treated better, then Wilberforce would not have opposed the slave trade? Was it just a vanity project for Wilberforce (he was independently wealthy and had lots of interest in being a political person)? What did Wilberforce think of Bible passages that appear to endorse slavery, or at least normalize it? There is nothing on any of this.

[Nazziwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction of William Wilberforce for those who have never read a book on him before. So don't expect a deep dive into who Wilberforce was, but rather just know as the children get older they can expand and read other biographies on him that go into more details of what his driving force and ambition. I have read several books on him and wasn't expecting to still learn some new information I haven't read before.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Wilberforce was a God ordained blessing to so many people. I read this aloud with my children. We learnt so much about what was happening in politics and the slave trade at the time.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basic book to learn about William Wilberforce.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for a teen. Simplistic for an adult, but it was still interesting and Iearned a lot. Interesting questions at the back which could be used in a group setting.

[Rami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a great man,

The story is an easy read, about a man who fought against the stream and changed the world. For me I found it very moving, because I my self, am a man who is living for others. As this may be good in some situations it is not in others. Living in a peaceful and passive way is not good most of the times.

This is exactly what moved me in the story, this man although lived a life where he could have been as passive as he wants, enjoying the luxuries and joys of life. Spending he time with family and friends, a life full of joking and laughing (which he did in his youth).

He did not, he fought for the slaves who lived tough and unfair lives. He opposed the stream and followed what he believed is fair and just. He didn't, act according to the needs of his fellow merchants or friends. He acted according to things which are rooted deep deep in his heart. For it he met the Tsar of Russia, the King of Britain, and many others. Something which was more important than his friends, his family and even himself and his health.

[Suzanne Shumaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that I had never heard of William Wilberforce. He was instrumental in ending the slave trade in Great Britain. This biography was a very short easy to read book meant for upper elementary. I would be very interested in reading one that was mean for older readers.

[Carter Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Bingham's prose is often elementary and lacking in insight, this short volume remains a moving account of one of history's greatest Christian humanitarians.