Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image

by Anne Sebba

A brief biography of the nun who founded the order known as "The Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity" to work with the sick and destitute in Calcutta and other places and who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Genres: Biography, Religion, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Anne Sebba began her writing career at the BBC world service, Arabic section, while still a student. After graduating from King’s College, London in Modern European History, she worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in London and Rome, the first woman Reuters accepted on their Graduate Trainee Scheme. In 1975 she moved to New York with her husband and first baby returning two years later with a second baby and first book. From then on she was launched into a freelance career as a journalist, biographer, cruise lecturer and occasional broadcaster and is now also an officially accredited Nadfas lecturer. She has worked for many writers’ organisations including PEN Writers in Prison Committee and the Society of Authors chairing its Management Committee from 2013- 2015 and followed her bestselling biography That Woman, a life of Wallis Simpson, based on the discovery of 15 secret letters which Wallis wrote to her second husband Ernest Simpson, with Les Parisiennes : How the Women of Paris lived, loved and died in the 1940s published in the UK and US in 2016.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently finished Christopher Hitchen's, "The Missionary Position", a highly critical account of the activities of the Albanian born Mother Teresa, I felt that I wanted to read a more balanced account of this remarkable woman, who appeared to have dedicated her life to assuaging the woes of the poor.

Anne Sebba's "Mother Teresa" was recommended to me by Bejtullah Destani, a leading scholar of Albanian history and, incidentally, also one of the people mentioned in Sebba's acknowledgements.

Sebba's book does provide a far fairer account of Mother Teresa's life. It describes her childhood and early years in fascinating detail. It also discusses the criticisms of the good lady's activities in a sensible and balanced way. I detected that although Sebba was not as violently sceptical about Mother Teresa as Christopher Hitchens, she is far from uncritical.

What struck me was the number of people described by Sebba who have done at least as much good for the poor as Mother Teresa, but who have gone largely unrecognised. Sebba discusses this in her book, and the way that Mother T was so successful in attracting the world's 'celebrities' to back her cause. Other equally benevolent workers in Calcutta and elsewhere have failed to do this, although in many ways it seems that their causes are more worthwhile than Teresa's.

Sebba's book is informative but is not a hagiography. For an uncritical appraisal of Mother Teresa's life, there is a surfeit of books. Sebba has written a readable, informative, and far from biased account of the woman who was canonised abnormally soon after her death in 1997.

Review by author of "Albania on my Mind"

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I got some info from this book about MOther Theresa, it seemed to me that the author was looking for the controversy. There certainly may be some tactics that Mother Theresa used that were worthy of discussion (whom she took money from, the "business" side of her operation). However, the whole feeling I got from the book was that the author had very little understanding of the spiritual underpinnings of Mother Theresa's work. Not recommended.

[Nikhil]

Big Personalities have much controversial things too. We need to pick best from them. We can pursue truth ,but should not demonize personality,especially when we have "Benefit Of HindSight". At most where we don't Agree with Mother will be the area -" Belief System"

[diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a struggle listening to the author try to be objective about Mother's career, especially when it came to the author and her continual insistence that Mother's view on abortion was anti woman. Sebba couldn't let go. I read on and found Mother to be a persuasive person who was doing God's work. She could convince many leaders to help the poor, no matter their political persuasion or religion. Bob Geldof said it best, " she was outrageously brilliant. There was no false modesty about her and there was a certainty of purpose which left her little patience. But she was totally selfless; every moment Her aim seemed to be, how can I use this or that situation to help others".

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

My book group actually decided that each member would choose their own biography of Mother Teresa to read, since there are so many. I found this one at my local library. It was ok. It was interesting to find out though, that there was so much controversy surrounding her; I hadn't realized that. I would have liked to read more about her early life in her native country.

[Juliette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting review of Mother Teresa and her work in the world. The result of some very impressive research, it seemed, and tried to maintain a balanced view of the "Saint of Calcutta." However, I did think at times the author's personal feelings were evident, and it was a bit more critical of MT than I thought was always completely fair.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author was only looking for controversy. So , Mother Teresa was against abortion, no surprise. so, she was not a very good book keeper, so she was not a doctor, so she was not above taking money to help the poor from what ever source she found be it questionable or not. so she did so many things differently than others before or after her. SHE DID GET THINGS DONE.

[Bookchick · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't agree with much of what the author said, it was an interesting perspective on Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. I feel like I better understand where her critics were coming from.

[John De Marchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be controversial. Mother Teresa did a lot of good for humanity. She did win the Nobel Peace prize in 1979. There was a lot of controversy that why the Missionary of Charity was run that she founded. She did exploit the nuns who were not educated which were the ones that she selected. They were ill-trained for as Personal Support Workers for the sick. Her missionary also did provide refuge for orphaned children. The nuns were inadequately to take care of them. Her centers were reusing syringes especially during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

Mother Teresa was travelling 10 months of the year to meet with politicians and other dignitaries. She also opened other homes around the world. She was getting the best medical care in different medical centers especially when she had her heart surgery in Los Angeles while the people that her missionary was dying.

Being a catholic nun, she was vehemently against abortion and contraceptives.

I am just wondering why would a humanitarian like Mother Teresa be so concerned about a Noble Peace prize.

[Suyash W · Rating 1 out of 5]

Controversial. Lots of things that are even hard to believe.

[Joy Fricke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow read. Lots of history and details.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love mother Theresa.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an amazing lady. I really enjoyed this book.

[Mirëdon Fusha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book which is highly informative but in which there's not as much passion as I would love to!

[Molly Broxterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not know this was going to have a negative view of Mother Teresa. It was interesting.

[Madison Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty disappointed in this book. I thought it would really focus on Mother Teresa and all the incredible work she has done, but I got so lost in the book because I felt it jumped too quickly from one story to another. One moment it would be talking about her, then jump to the war or hardship that was going on with the country or city they lived in, then talk about something different. It needed more fluidity. I wish it would focus on her more since it is her book. I get the reader needs background details that give light to what was going on, but I wish there was more of her and what she did in her life.