Some Recent Book Publications Reviewed
Mike Farrow

Taiz, L. Hallelujah Lads and Lasses: Remaking the Salvation Army in America 1880-1939.

University of North Carolina Press.

ISBN: 0-8078-2621-9 (hard cover) - £39.95; 0-8078-4935-9 (paper cover) - £14.50

This book is a well researched and critical look at The Salvation Army in America during its first fifty years, though it does at times make very difficult first time reading. I have no doubt that it will become a standard reference work on the period particularly as far as American Salvationist Army history is concerned. There are hundreds of notes for reference purposes and I know that I will read this book again and again. The hardback price is somewhat prohibitive in view of the length of the book, just short of two hundred and fifty pages and will deter all but the real enthusiast.

Walker, P. J. Pulling The Devil's Kingdom. Down. University of California. 

ISBN: 0-520-22591-0. £25.00 approx.

This well written and well researched book takes a critical look at the Salvation Army in Victorian Britain. The book majors on the Army's background in Victorian society, particularly focusing on the working class community and culture in Victorian Britain, and stands well amongst earlier works on the origins and development of The Salvation Army by Glenn Horridge and Norman Murdoch. At times the author does seem to get a little bogged down on some issues which makes the book just a little hard going in places. This work is well worth reading though, and will no doubt prove to be an extremely valuable reference book. There is an extensive Index and Bibliography as well as abundant notes.

Blackwell, M. The Open Door. The Salvation Army, United Kingdom Territory. 

ISBN: 0-85412-690-2. £4.25

This book of less than two hundred pages makes fascinating reading, I had great difficulty putting it down. It is a graphic and thrilling account of The Salvation Army's second entry into Russia and The Commonwealth of Independent States. The account reads like a chapter from the Acts of the Apostles, it is an account of a daring move forward in the name of Jesus Christ. The book deals faithfully with all aspects of the opening, and paints a very balanced picture of the first few years - victories and setbacks. If you do not have this book you are missing something!