SPURGEON:
A Life
By Alex DiPrima
Reformation Heritage Books.
300 pages. £27.99
ISBN 979 8 886 861 150
Alex Di Prima has already written helpfully on Spurgeon in his Spurgeon and the Poor: How the Gospel Compels Christian Social Concern (Reformation Heritage Books, 2023). In turning to this book my expectations were high, and they were not disappointed.
Di Prima has produced a faithful (and inspiring) retelling of Spurgeon’s life which is long enough to explore important themes, but not so long as to become overly detailed. The book’s recounting of the criticism Spurgeon received as a young preacher (and while attracting vast crowds in London) is helpfully explored. Would it be any different today? The great importance of a loving marriage is given due time as the relationship between Charles and Susannah Spurgeon is outlined. And the sheer extent of Spurgeon’s work clearly comes across. From the ‘prince of preachers’, to the leader of the ‘pastors’ college’, to the founder of a significant orphanage and more, the ‘real’ Spurgeon in all his fullness is set before readers.
Yet, this is no hagiography. There is helpful analysis of Spurgeon’s preaching and useful caution about the amount of work Spurgeon undertook. There is a judicious engagement with Spurgeon’s struggles with depression. Perhaps most helpful of all though, is the treatment of the Downgrade Controversy, and the discussions of Spurgeon’s skills (or lack thereof !) as a denominational leader. No one leader (however gifted) has all the gifts.
Perhaps, though, you don’t feel the need for another Spurgeon biography. Surely everything that can be said about Spurgeon has been? No, Spurgeon is such colossal figure he will speak with freshness to each new generation. Di Prima enables Spurgeon to speak to ours.
