Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, Wife of Charles H. Spurgeon

“This is, without doubt, the most detailed, historically accurate, and definitive account on the life of my great-great grandmother Susie. Ray Rhodes has been meticulous in his research and yet has presented Susie's life in a very readable and engaging way. I came away from each chapter wanting to live life like Susie did. First, and most important, to have that strong and abiding faith she had in God. Second, to have the complete devotion to my husband that Susie and Charles had to each other. Finally, to have the unwavering perseverance that she had to the end, despite prolonged illness and the many trials of her life. This book will encourage you to live life looking to Christ to supply and to be everything you need as you seek to serve Him for His glory. ”

“I have long wanted to read a biography of Susannah Spurgeon, and Ray Rhodes has given me (and the church) a gift in this biography of a remarkable woman. If you long to know that your trials will be used by God, your weakness is the way to holiness, and your faithfulness in the ordinary and hidden work of ministry is valuable to God, then let Susie be your teacher and your friend. You will find a fellow sister in this book, and you will be encouraged. God will do His intended work in the lives of His people, and Susie is one faithful example of that work. ”

“It has been way too long for the release of a full-length biography of Susie Spurgeon. Ray Rhodes has made it worth the wait! This book is a gem that has the same effect on the reader that Susie had on all the lives she touched: it draws our minds and hearts to marvel at the Lord's goodness. As Charles Spurgeon referred to his wife, this "bravest of women, strong in the faith" was so focused on God's glory that theology pulsed through her veins and out of her heart, mouth, hands, and pen. Susie Spurgeon, queen of the housewife theologians, treated the many obstacles and sufferings in her path as opportunities for the Lord's strength to work through her weaknesses. And he worked mightily through Susie to bless her family and friends, and to minister to pastors, to orphans, and to us as well. I'm thankful for how Ray has enriched my understanding of Christ through the life of Susie Spurgeon. ”

“Charles Spurgeon was the most famous name in Christendom in the latter half of the nineteenth century. He is still widely regarded as "The Prince of Preachers" in all of Christian history and is the hero of countless evangelical preachers today, including myself. What is much less known is how much Spurgeon loved and relied upon his godly wife, Susannah. Through both original research and new insights into long-dormant material, Ray Rhodes has restored "Susie" to her rightful place alongside her famous husband. Anyone interested in Spurgeon will enjoy this book, especially for its insights into the home life, family worship practices, and spiritual relationship of the Spurgeons. Anyone looking to read the life of a heroic Christian woman will find it in this biography of the remarkable Susannah Spurgeon. ”

“Admirers of C. H. Spurgeon will be delighted to pick up this new biography of his wife, Susannah. Ray Rhodes's carefully researched account of Susie's life freshly illuminates the story of the woman who upheld the nineteenth century's greatest preacher by her love and prayer. Susie's story exemplifies trust in God in the midst of chronic illness and paints a sweet picture of married love. Readers will also give thanks to God for her Pastors' Book Fund, which supplied thousands of volumes to equip needy pastors. We can learn much from the stories of saints who have gone before, and this book is no exception.”

“It is hard to believe that there has been no substantial study of Susannah Spurgeon's life until this work by Ray Rhodes. Her husband and his ministry are so well-known, but for some reason, Susannah and her life have been but a chapter in his story. Thankfully Ray has now corrected this and given us a full account of her inspiring pilgrimage. I hope this book receives a wide readership among both women and men.”

“As modern readers, it's often difficult to relate to the saints of old. Ray Rhodes paints us a picture of a woman who devoted herself to personal piety—an inspiration for women in any age. ”

“A well-worn adage states, behind every great man is a great woman; and it's often true. Most of us know the great C. H. Spurgeon, but precious few know the godly woman to whom he was married—the woman who raised his children, who kept his house, who was his soul mate, and who helped keep him sane amid the boiling cauldron of local church ministry in Victorian England. In these clearly written, lively pages, my friend and fellow pastor Ray Rhodes brings Susie Spurgeon to life in bold relief and in full color, taking us inside the life of the woman who loved the Prince of Preachers. This is a unique, much-needed biography. It's the best kind of history—written to serve the church of Jesus Christ—and it will serve as the standard biography of the delightful Mrs. Spurgeon for decades to come. There is literally something compelling here for every Christian. Read and rejoice that God gave the great Spurgeon such a lion-hearted helpmate. ”