The Ramparts of Heaven

Wakefield Dynasty #5

by Gilbert Morris

Two families—the Wakefields of nobility and the lower-class Morgans—are the focus of this sweeping generational saga, joined by intriguing personalities such as Elizabeth I, William Tyndale, and John Bunyan. Linking the people and events through the ages is the struggle of men and women who sought God as the answer to their difficulties. #5: "The Ramparts of Heaven" Follow the quest of Andrew Wakefield, a ministerial student at Oxford University, as he joins these shakers and movers in their attempts to advance the Methodist movement—and bring the realities of the gospel of Christ to a needy world.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult Fiction

361 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1997

About the author

also published under the name Gilbert L. Morris

Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris

Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m 50/50 on this. I loved the Wesley stories & the 18th century England feel. I not so much loved how much the author seemed to put pressure on women needing to be pretty. There were a lot of awkward and weird referrals like “Dorcas was not and will ever be a beautiful woman but she had ok features like her dark hair” and the way he elaborated on it all the time made it seem a bit misogynistic.

[Shauna Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always appreciate a well written book that also points to the deeper meanings in life! This one had a bit more romance than I typically appreciate but it was an important part of the storyline and an important part of the divine order of things. Gilbert Morris is a favorite of mine for good reason.

[Katy Vendetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this series as a teenager but never finished, so I'm trying to complete this series by the end of the year.
This book took forever to read. For the first 200 pages of this book, I was ready to give it a two-star rating, and perhaps it's really a two and a half star rating overall, but I went ahead and rounded it up to three.
At the beginning of the book, it skips two generations, which the author hadn't done in the previous books. I felt like this took away from the Wakefield story. Only one of the characters from the previous book makes it into this story. And like the previous book, for a large portion of this book, it was preoccupied with the stories of John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and the Methodist movement.
But because of the generational jump, I had unanswered questions. All of the sudden, the eldest Wakefield was much more focused on status and wealth, as well as his mother, and his father was dead. So we don't know how it evolved from a family with a strong religious center to this one. The second son, Andrew, is the son that we really follow. The eldest is really just a secondary character, as well as the Wakefield property that has taken a major part in stories past.
That said, the Methodist movement was interesting, especially since it involved some travel to America (or the colonies as it was at this point). There wasn't as much political involvement in this one, but the conflict came from the Church of England.

There is no profanity in the book, which is par for the rest of the series probably. There is some sexual tension in this book between two of the characters who are married. The husband only wants to be married because that's what he is supposed to do, but he doesn't want to be romantic or give in to his "carnal" side which complicates the relationship. He does give in once but it's not graphic or detailed at all. But you know what is going on. There is also kissing as in most of the books. There is also some violence that the preachers experience, but nothing graphic, again.

I am learning some things about the religious legacy coming out of England. It is interesting, but I'm also wanting more about the Wakefield family, more like the last 100 or so pages of this book. Perhaps the next book in the series will be different?

[Kay Adelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different Gilbert Morris book than what I’m used to reading, but I liked the uniqueness of it. The characters were all entertaining, and of course, as a huge fan of the King Arthur legends, the name “Gareth” especially stuck out to me thanks to Gareth of Orkney. Subsequently, Gareth and Dorcas became my favorite characters pretty quickly, though I did get a little annoyed with Gareth’s romance; I wish they’d just left him single as I felt the romance didn’t do much for the book. Plus the girl was kinda flighty in my opinion.

The romance was a little heavier than I’m used to, which I guess was fine, since I liked how they showed at the end how a love for God can affect one’s love for their spouse. I guess I could put up with more romance than usual for that message.

In all, I’d give this book 3.5-4 stars, and would recommend it for ages 13+ because of the suggestive elements in it.

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

Read my full review at: https://achristiangirlwrites.wordpres...

[Kw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, compelling historical fiction. I found the history of the English awakening under Whitefield and Wesley and others to be extremely interesting. How we need that now!
I did think the main male character was something of a dolt, but all ended well, of course. Much doctrine and illustration how scripture can be misused, taken out of context. It has to fit he whole!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but disjointed by the author's admirable attempts to fit in lots of information about the Wesleys and Whitefield. Took a different direction than the other books, but still seemed somewhat unrealistic at times. However, it was enjoyable and interesting.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, but too many chapters read like a history book.

[Claudia Stückner · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ihr Männer, liebt eure Frauen, wie auch Christus die Gemeinde geliebt hat und hat sich selbst für sie dahingegeben, um sie zu heiligen." (Eph. 5, 25-26)
England 1731:
Gareth und Dorcas Morgan schlagen sich in Wales mehr schlecht als recht alleine durchs Leben. Eines Tages jedoch bekommen sie Besuch von Andrew Wakefield. Dessen Tante Hope möchte ihre Verwandten zu sich holen, um ihnen ein besseres Leben zu ermöglichen. Während Dorcas sich um Hope kümmert, soll Gareth sich in Oxford nützlich machen. Die Prediger John Wesley und George Whitefield entfachen mit ihren Evangelisationen eine neue Liebe zum Glauben unter der Bevölkerung. Methodisten nennt sich die neue Glaubensgemeinschaft, die immer mehr Menschen in ihren Bann zieht. Das dies der Kirche ein Dorn im Auge ist, bekommen die Prediger immer mehr zu spüren. Selbst zwischen Andrew, Gareth und Dorcas gibt es heftige Differenzen.

Meine Meinung:
Wieder einmal gefällt mir besonders das wunderschöne Cover dieses Buches. Der Schreibstil empfinde ich zwar unterhaltsam, jedoch auch ein wenig zäh und langatmig. Besonders die Glaubensreise von John Wesley und Andrew Wakefield nach Amerika konnte mich nicht so gar nicht fesseln. Selbst wenn die kirchliche Entwicklung Englands in Zeiten von John Wesley sicherlich interessant gewesen wäre. Doch die schwierigen Zeiten in Georgia und dazu noch die Liebe zu Sophy konnte mich nicht so sehr begeistern. Selbst bei den Wakefield, die bisher immer für waghalsige Abenteuer und feurige Liebe standen, tat sich diesmal recht wenig. Andrew, der mir eigentlich zu Beginn an recht sympathisch ist, entwickelt sich für mich immer mehr zu Skeptiker und wird mir zusehends unsympathisch. Seine Ehe mit Dorcas fand ich überaus tragisch, besonders weil ich nicht verstehen kann, dass ein Geistlicher sich so negativ entwickelt. Das die reformierte Kirche ein Problem mit der neuen Glaubensform der Methodistische und wesleyanische Kirchen hat, kann ich dagegen sehr gut nachvollziehen. So ganz habe ich jedoch nicht verstanden, warum John Wesley in Amerika nicht angenommen wurden. Erfreulich dagegen ist das der junge George Whitefield mit seinen Evangelisationen die Bevölkerung erreicht. So das es die Menschen nicht in die Kirchen, sondern die Prediger zu den Menschen führt. So finden Gottesdienste im Freien statt, bei denen massenhaft Menschen herbeiströmen. Doch am traurigsten fand ich die Andrews weiterer Werdegang als Pfarrer. Durch John Wesleys Missionsreise trifft er für sich die falschen Lehren und Entscheidungen. Dass er dabei immer mehr mit seinem eigenen Glauben hadert und sogar fast seine Ehe riskiert, fand ich schon beschämend. Dorcas dagegen ist für mich eine starke Frau, die trotz der widrigen Umstände weiter an ihrem starken Glauben festhält. Genauso fasziniert hat mich der tiefe Glaube von Hope, den ich bei ihr nicht vermutet hätte. Dass sie dabei ihre Verwandten in Wales nicht vergessen hat, hat mir gut gefallen. Trotz allem fand ich es erneut interessant mitzuerleben, wie sich der Glaube weiter in England entwickelt. Deshalb gebe ich für dieses Buch 4 von 5 Sterne.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Two families--the Wakefields of nobility and the lower-class Morgans--are the focus of this sweeping generational saga, joined by intriguing personalities such as Elizabeth I, William Tyndale, John Bunyan, John and Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield. Linking the people and events through the ages is the struggle of men and women who sought God as the answer to their difficulties.Follow the quest of Andrew Wakefield, a ministerial student at Oxford University, as he joins these shakers and movers in their attempts to advance the Methodist movement--and bring the realities of the gospel of Christ to a needy world.

REVIEW: I found book five of this series particularly interesting since my 4th great grandfather was a circuit riding Methodist preacher in the late 1700's and early 1800's. He became a Methodist during the great revival along the east coast of the US during the time period that George Whitefield was holding his many tent meetings. Morris truly brought to life the struggles that Wesley went through in splitting from the Church of England and developing a more Christ-centered, faith based, personal relationship with God. The author's mix of church history and fictional romance is very well done. I found the characters of Andrew and Dorcas complex and well developed. Each struggled with problems but resolved them through a closer connection to Christ. I do miss the characters from previous books as they age and die; but like how the children of one book become the adults and focus of the next.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Think of heaven, talk of heaven, all time is lost when we are not talking of heaven.

"Ya, he knows the Scripture. But it is better, I tink, to know the God who wrote the Scripture."

"There are two kinds of storms. One is the physical storm that may lead to death, but the other is the storm inside a man's soul, and that is the worst of all."

"Preach faith till you have it. And then, because you have it, preach faith."

"Christian perfection refers to the work of God in the heart. It is loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. It means your motivation is pure. Your thoughts words, and actions are governed by pure love. Your heart is perfect before God and your life is full of joy."

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Wakefield Saga von Gilbert Morris ist eine siebenteilige Familienreihe über Glaube, Reformation, Liebe und Macht. Es handelt sich um eine Neuauflage der ursprünglich in den 90er Jahren erschienenen Bücher.

Stürme der Liebe, der fünfte Band der Wakefield Saga, macht einen vergleichsweise großen Sprung ins 18. Jahrhundert, wo sich die Geschichte im Zeitraum von 1731 bis 1741 abspielt. In vier Teile untergliedert begleitet das Buch die Wakefield Brüder Andrew und George sowie ihre Großtante Hope. Diese bittet Andrew, ihre walisischen Verwandten, die Geschwister Dorcas und Gareth Morgan, zu besuchen. Er lädt sie ein, ihn nach England zu begleiten, wo Dorcas sich um Hope kümmert und Gareth mit Andrew nach Oxford geht. Dort begegnen sie dem „Klub der Heiligen“, der von den Brüdern John und Charles Wesley gegründet wurde. Die Erweckungsprediger John Wesley und George Whitefield spielen in Stürme der Liebe eine prominente Rolle. Gekonnt verflicht der Autor die Erzählung mit historischen Gegebenheiten. So findet man zum Beispiel Auszüge aus den Tagebüchern und Briefen Wesleys und Whitefields im Buch wieder.

Morris hat mit Band 5 der Wakefield Saga ein weiteres historisches Lesevergnügen auf 390 Seiten geschaffen. Fans historischer Romane sollten sich diese Reihe nicht entgehen lassen. Ich empfehle allerdings mit Band 1 zu beginnen und die Reihe chronologisch zu lesen.

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: this is a re-read

"Ya, he knows the Scripture. But it is better, I tink, to know the God who wrote the Scripture."

This was probably my second least favorite book in the series right in front of A Gathering of Eagles . Once again I found the tying in of fictional characters with non-fictional characters done very well & I think it's pretty genius how he used the family line to connect the Morgans to the Wakefields. I love seeing the lines throughout the ages. It was interesting to see the struggles Wesley went through. George Whitefield is a great side character.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a nutshell, too much history and not enough fiction. As this series has gone on it has moved further away from the title characters and become more about historical figures. This book did that even more since it skipped a generation. It just seemed more like a collection of people's diaries and excerpts from history books.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reread 9/12

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction series set in 16th-18th century England. Many of the main characters intersect the lives of royalty of the time. I love English royalty history.