The Giant with One Idea is the biography of Thomas Clarkson. In 1785, Thomas was an ordained deacon preparing to become a vicar, when he won a Latin essay competition on the subject: “Is it right to make slaves of others against their will?” Thomas had decided to enter the competition before he even knew the topic. He was good at Latin and enjoyed research. However, the research for the essay changed his life as he was confronted with the appalling conditions that slaves endured. He felt God’s call to commit his life to the abolition of the slave trade.
This biography details the many difficulties that Thomas encountered over decades until the Slavery Abolition Act passed in 1833. He was so committed to his task, he risked his life and his health to seek out evidence and witnesses to convince parliament of the evils of slavery. Along the way, he met others with the same commitment including William Wilberforce. Wilberforce became better known than Clarkson since he was the Member of Parliament who brought the matter before the government on numerous occasions.
Emily Maurits has produced a well-written and well-researched account of Clarkson’s life. The book is aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds and is part of the Trail Blazers series. This book is an important addition to this series for the historical information it contains. Emily has also included some bonus features including questions for further study, a timeline and a note about modern slavery.
Overall an important read since slavery continues to be a problem in our world.
Thanks to Christian Focus for providing a free copy for review.
More reviews of this book can be found on Goodreads. More reviews of other Christian Non-fiction books that I have read can be found here
