A Book of Quaker Saints

Lois watches a sunset cloud from a nursery window and wonders what it means to be a saint. Her curiosity introduces L. V. Hodgkin's stories of early members of the Society of Friends, written for children and young people. The collection follows the growth of Quaker belief through individual lives, including George Fox's youth, and explains how the idea of the Inward Light spread from one person's conviction into a wider community.

The account of James Parnell's imprisonment at Colchester shows the hardships faced by early Friends and the concern of those who tried to help him. Hodgkin draws on journals, letters and other contemporary documents, while explaining that some scenes include added speeches or imagined observers. Historical notes identify sources and clarify these choices. With its attention to faith, courage and religious opposition, the book offers readers a story-based introduction to Quaker history, with the more difficult accounts intended for older children.