Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby (Library of Religious Biography

by Edith L. Blumhofer

Her Heart Can See offers an intimate, informed look at Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915), the most prolific of all American hymn writers. Having lost her sight in infancy through a doctor's negligence, Fanny went on to compose more than 9,000 hymns, as well as various other songs, cantatas, and lyrical productions. Crosby's hymns, including such all-time favorites as "Blessed Assurance," "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior," "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross," "Rescue the Perishing," "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," and "I Am Thine, O Lord," continue to be sung around the world.

Celebrated in her own day for her gospel hymns, Crosby was also very publicly involved with New York City's rescue missions and with other benevolent efforts. She rubbed shoulders with the likes of Henry Clay, Grover Cleveland, Winfield Scott, Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey, Jenny Lind, P. T. Barnum, and many other famous figures who people these pages. More than two dozen black-and-white photographs depict the people and settings among which Crosby moved.

Drawing on primary sources -- including thousands of unpublished Crosby manuscripts -- Edith Blumhofer sorts fact from fiction in the life of this remarkable woman. Blumhofer responsibly limns Crosby's life as a gifted nineteenth-century northeastern Protestant woman, in the process showing why "this diminutive woman" was -- and is -- so beloved.

Genres: Biography, Music, Christian, Nonfiction

405 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Dr. Edith Lydia Blumhofer was a Harvard-educated historian, whose work focused on the history of Christianity in post-Civil War America, who focused much of her work on American Pentecostalism.

Reviews

[Mark Drinnenberg]

This is a fascinating study of the person who wrote the lyrics to some of the Church's best-loved hymns and of the development of music and evangelical thought in America during her lifetime (through most of the 19th Century). This is not hagiography; it is history penned by a capable historian.

While the early pages, wherein Blumhofer gives a detailed Crosby family history, are a bit tedious with names and dates and locations that were hard to keep track of, once the book moves into Fanny Crosby's life (which it does early on), it becomes a fascinating study. Most people who know of Crosby probably know that she was blind and that she wrote thousands of hymns; Blumhofer presents the flesh-and-blood person behind those surface realities.

A good portion of the book is spent on detailing the culture in which Fanny Crosby lived, followed Jesus, and wrote her lyrics. It was fascinating to learn of the rise of the music industry, the development of copyright law, the Sunday school movement and how it fostered many of the hymns that came out of the 19th Century, and the ministers who rose to prominence during Crosby's lifetime, including D.L. Moody and his song leader, Ira Sankey. But it was frustrating to read of how some who used Crosby's lyrics gained great wealth in their musical endeavors while she received very little monetary reward. It should be noted, however, that when she did receive money, she often gave much of it away to people in need.

As is true of any faithful believer, Fanny Crosby was not perfect, but her lyrics, which often spoke of such things as one day arriving on heaven's shore and seeing Jesus, reveal what was truly important to her. She was an inspiration in her time, lauded even in the secular press, and she remains an inspiration through the hymns she penned that have survived. This book reveals the very real person that she was, and it inspires, as well.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blumhofer has provided us with a first-rate biography on a figure that has in many quarters attained almost mythical characteristics. She succeeds in giving us a profoundly helpful perspective on this much loved hymn writer. This biography aims not at entertaining, but enlightening; not at inspiration, but insight; not at sentimentality, but significance. And in these ways Blumhofer hits her target. The strengths of the book lie in: a) placing Fanny Crosby within the larger historical context of 19th century American Protestantism generally and the transformation of American church music taking place during that area specifically, and b) in the depth of quality historical research. If you are looking to warm your heart, choose a different biography. If you are seeking truly to understand Fanny J. Crosby and her significant place in American church music, this is the book for you.

[Jason Comely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be inspired

Explains the circumstances and context to how a blind woman of modest upbringing and education could be such a prolific writer of beautiful hymns. Her lyrics and life moved me to tears many times in this book.

[Shane Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thumbs up for this book and on a personal note, Fanny Crosby is my Great great great Aunt on my Father's side! So that is kind of cool!

[Diane Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a bit detailed and quite a history lesson, which may bore some readers. I found the interspersed poems and songs very inspiring, almost moved to tears as I read and reread some of these famous words. Although a bit of a wonder this incredible woman was blind her whole life and yet had a memory that is unexplainable (unless you believe in the Holy Spirit). She could compose 40 verses at a time,without writing them down, then edit them in her mind and then have someone transpose them as she recited them out loud Definitely a good book to share but will write my name in the cover because I will want it back to read again. Excellent!

[Philip]

Great book not only about Fannie but about gospel hymns in the 19th century. Fantastic resource for anyone interested in the history of gospel hymnody.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, I did not read the entire book. I skimmed it since I wanted to learn more about Fanny Crosby, but in the beginning there was a lot of family and church history. Overall, I enjoyed what I learned about Fanny who wrote one of my favorite hymns "Blessed Assurance." I also learned more about the mid-1800's and the burst of hymn writing and Sunday School. She had local ties to the area where I live so it was interesting to hear some CT history too. For a blind woman, she used her other gifts that God gave her to endure times.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly interesting for its coverage of 1800's Protestant church and Sunday schools and the early gospel music tradition.