©2005, Christian Focus Publications, 439 pages in paperback (including appendix).

His national fame led to a military assignment in the Sudan.  It was this assignment and its impact that attracted my attention to this biography.

Charles Gordon was born in l833 into a close-knit, military family.   This environment  providentially prepared him for his future calling.  After being commissioned as a member of the Corps of the Royal Engineers, his path crossed that of a Christian couple who, by God’s grace, pointed the young soldier to Christ.  He seriously considered the claims and teachings of Christ as he headed to the Crimean War.  Christianity, as should be expected, brought a revolutionary change into Gordon’s life.  On the battle line he had no fear of death.  He trusted in the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Gordon loved to be in the middle of  the action.   Thus, he was glad to leave a sleepy, post-Crimea assignment for faraway China.  There he would be catapulted to fame for leading Chinese troops in halting a serious rebellion within the country.  He handily combated problems of incompetent subordinates, desertion, and betrayal.  His life continued to be marked by a resting in God’s sovereign hand and the outworking of His providence.

Off the battlefield, he sacrificially sought to aid the impoverished, whether they were unpaid Chinese soldiers or starving citizens.  In his next assignment in England, he devoted much time to Bible study and visitation of the poor.  He financed education for many and secured jobs for young men.  He recognized the importance of every soul and the need for every individual to use his talents on earth to praise God.

Several years later, Gordon was assigned to Africa and quickly became Governor-General of the Sudan.  At great risk to himself, he tackled the issue of slave trade. He faced dangers from faithless subordinates, those involved in graft, and slave traders.  The common citizen admired and appreciated his concern.  All of this was preparation for his final assignment, his return to Khartoum.

Government leaders reluctantly assigned Gordon to the war-torn area in the mid-l880s.  His determination to do things his way, generally with much success, had not gained him great respect from superiors.  The situation was so dangerous, however, that no one else seemed as qualified to secure evacuation from Khartoum as the famed Gordon.  English citizens were elated to learn that “Chinese Gordon” was headed to the Sudan. He accepted this assignment as God’s sovereign direction.

Sadly, events did not go as Gordon had hoped.  Mistakes were made.  Britain was slow to respond to his call for more troops.  After a siege of more than three hundred days, the Moslem attackers poured into the city.  Gordon was killed.  Relief arrived two days too late.

Pollock has provided an interesting, readable account of Gordon’s life.  The book is well-researched and draws from his correspondence to family members and recollections of peers.  The author points out Gordon’s faults, including errors in his Christian understanding.  He never committed himself to a church denomination; perhaps that commitment would have corrected some errant beliefs.  This famed commander preferred to be out of the limelight.  He enjoyed studying the Bible alone.

This volume is marred by inadequate proofreading.  There are many grammatical and spelling errors, which were a distraction for me.

Those interested in military life will enjoy this volume of history. Individuals who like to read Christian biographies will be encouraged by Gordon’s life. The historical perspective that we gain  on the Sudan may prove to be helpful in light of today’s continuing troubles in that part of the world. 

 Review ©2006 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia