Publishers Weekly
- Publisher's Weekly
Severance's (Winston Churchill: Soldier, Statesman, Artist) thorough biography is a gold mine for middle schoolers researching Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1947) or India's struggle to win independence from British rule. Not only does Severance follow Gandhi closely for his 79 years on three continents, he takes care to target to his audience his explanations of the caste system, satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) and the deep-seated conflicts among Muslims, Hindus and the British. The sheer inclusiveness may prove daunting to the more casual reader; however, those who persevere will discover that the brisk narrative delivers surprises and rewards. Severance provides an account of Gandhi's less than saintly youth, and peppers his chronicle with some ironic facts: for example, Gandhi's wife, Kasturba, remained illiterate for her entire 62 years with this uncommonly learned man; as a new lawyer Gandhi became tongue-tied at his first trial and returned his client's money; and, sadly, it was a bullet from the gun of another Hindu that ended his life. The numerous period photographs include one of a jail that Gandhi once cited to British authorities as his home address. Severance leaves readers with a strong understanding of the Mahatma's (Sanskrit for "Great Soul") accomplishments and of his influence on such leaders as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. Ages 10-up. (Mar.)
Children's Literature
- Uma Krishnaswami
The frontispiece for this book is a woodcut by Fritz Eichenberg: Gandhi in the foreground, hands folded in a traditional 'Namaste,' against a huddle of men and women, the whole brooded over by the insignia of the Empire. In the woodcut, as in the book, there is no doubt within whom the strength resides. Severance explores the life of this legendary Indian with both clarity of focus and respect that reveal a man of complexity, conscience, and personal principles. The impact of his work and writings on subsequent world leaders like King and Mandela is here; so are the origins of his belief in self-reliance; his struggles, often controversial, with celibacy; his stints in the various prisons he termed "His Majesty's Hotels;" and more. An educative and readable work.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 UpThis well-written biography is notable for both its textual and pictorial content. Severance sets the stage for his chronological narrative with an opening chapter on Gandhi's legacy, including the impact of his message on the likes of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. He then portrays the pivotal experiences, public actions, and private struggles of the man. Gandhi's developing awareness and subsequent move toward self-esteem, self-control, and self-rule are interwoven with the threads of historical events, religious and class struggles, and his relationships with contemporaries and family. In a refreshing departure from stock photographs and textbook trivia, the book reveals the results of on-location, primary-source research. The concluding close-up of Gandhi with a young child and another of his few possessions at death are particularly compelling. Little else is available for young people regarding this important leader that combines this book's depth of scholarship, clarity, and the human element.Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Kirkus Reviews
Severance (Winston Churchill, 1996) not only relates the life of Mohandas K. Gandhi in this biography, but eloquently conveys the "Great Soul's" philosophy to a new generation. The details are especially impressive to a young readership: Gandhi's arranged marriage at age 13, his just-average record in elementary school, the experiences of prejudice on a business trip to South Africa that inspired him to abandon a future in law in London and to rise above materialistic concerns in the struggle to improve the lives of the less-fortunate. Severance capably recounts the numerous arrests, demonstrations, and public fasts Gandhi undertook, as well as aspects of his personal life that are not the stuff of legends: his children's resentment over not being allowed to attend school, and his wife's bitterness at having to renounce worldly goods. Readers also see the deep regret and sense of chaos that haunted Gandhi whenever violence erupted in the name of independence for India, as well as his influence on such figures as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. An inspirational life by any measure, movingly told.
