To Live Free: William Wilberforce: Experiencing the Man, the Mission, and the Legacy

Lon Fendall
Barbour Books (2007)
ISBN 9781597896887
Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (7/07)


Martin Luther King was very instrumental in freeing slaves, right? Or was it Abraham Lincoln who is credited with abolishing slavery? Have you ever heard of the man who did all he could to abolish slavery in England? His name is William Wilberforce.

Surely slavery has played in the increasing wealth and ease in the day-to-day lives of the wealthy of the 18th and 19th centuries. We don't participate in slavery and oppression today, or, do we?  Two-hundred years ago, William Wilberforce becomes a member of the English parliament. He uses his political influence and position to achieve his goal of setting people free -- freedom for the slaves from being sold and being held as property.  Slaves made English life possible in that time period. Were you aware that even the Church of England owned slaves and had the word “Society” burned onto the slaves’ chests? This book brings this and much more to light of what had really happened at this time.

“To Live Free” provides an easy-to-read analogy of some of the key events of his involvement in the abolition of English slavery. His work, with his main objective of setting free, is truly an inspiration.  There are many sections in this book which tell of Wilberforce's thoughts on pride, pleasing God, patriotism and sympathy. There are charts of world events in the 1780's included in this book. 

It is definitely one thing to say you have faith and another to put your faith into action. This is what Wilberforce does throughout his time as a prominent Member of Parliament. Despite his being ridiculed for his position against slavery, he continues on. Shouldn't we all continue on to our goal rather than, at the first sign of a problem, abandon what we truly believe in.

Lon Fendall has written a biography on this hero for the slaves. William Wilberforce is a little-known man, but he was a man with a definite mission. “To Live Free” is sure to inspire readers to see an opportunity to make other people's lives better and to seek to achieve your goals. Just as the slaves of long ago are now living free so are we through Christ we are not slaves to our sin. The price of slavery has not come cheaply and our debt is truly been paid in full.

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