There’s a reason that Charles Spurgeon is called the “Prince of Preachers.” This was an interesting take on a biography with a look at his life along with the life of his friend Thomas, who went on to find Jesus despite having been a slave in Virginia. The friendship between these two men was so special. This book has spurred me to want to learn more about Thomas Johnson. I found this book to be full of inspiration and hope.

4+ An interesting book about a subject I knew next to nothing about. I vaguely knew of Spurgeon before reading this book. But not about his life or illness or friendship with a greed slave! And the life of Thomas Johnson...wow! God is good!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book is amazing. Historically accurate and a good read.

I really enjoyed reading and learning of the life of Charles Spurgeon. I related with his story and struggles with sorrow - and the hope that he held on to in the scriptures. The authors did a fabulous job of intertwining two stories while showing the beauty of the Lords hand at work in both the lives of Thomas and Charles and their journey to freedom.

I didn't know what to expect from Steal Away Home, but the book description sounded quite intriguing—a story about Charles Haddon Spurgeon and a freed slave! I knew that Spurgeon lived in England, and the freed slave obviously came from America, so I was very curious to know how the two got together. I was not disappointed—this was a great story! It's one of the best I've read recently.
Charles Spurgeon grew up in a small village 40 miles north of London in the 1840s. He spent a good part of his childhood with his grandparents; his grandfather was a fiery Congregationalist preacher. The boy was terrified of darkness, and seemed to hear a voice speaking out of it to him, “You're mine.” As he grew older, the darkness pressed on him more and more. How could he ever escape from it and find God?
Thomas Johnson grew up on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, also in the 1840s. He had been torn away from his mother at a very young age, and only old Ezekiel, one of the other slaves, cared for the boy. Thomas wanted desperately to escape the frequent whippings and the constant drudgery, but Ezekiel told him he was looking for freedom in the wrong places. How could he find true freedom?
Both Charles and Thomas found freedom in Jesus, and both became fiery preachers. Charles, despite crippling illnesses and a wife who was an invalid, became known as the Prince of Preachers, with tens of thousands of people flocking to hear his sermons. After the American Civil War and Emancipation, Thomas found himself pastoring a church in Chicago. His heart, however, wanted to take the Good News of Jesus to Africa. How could that happen? The answer was the connection between these two great men!
As I said before, this is a great story. It is one that every Christian, or those who want to be a Christian, should read. There are so many truths expressed very clearly in this story, in which much of the dialogue is taken from Spurgeon's own writings and sermons. You will find yourself convicted and challenged as you read this book. I am thankful for the opportunity to have read it myself.
I received a free ecopy of this book from NetGalley and chose to write a review of it.

Having heard and read portions of Charles Spurgeon 's works all my life, I found this novel very interesting. This was such an easy book to read and enjoy. It shows Charles Spurgeon as a real person that one can relate. I've enjoyed reading about his friendship with Thomas Johnson, a person that I was unfamiliar with. This is a very inspiring book. Highly recommended!

First sentence: There was not a village in the world more pleasant than Stambourne, and although London was only forty miles southward, there was rarely a need to leave.

Premise/plot: Steal Away Home introduces readers to two men: Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson. Chances are, you've heard of Charles Spurgeon. It is less likely that you've heard of Thomas Johnson. The narration switches back and forth between these two. The novel covers five decades.

Charles Spurgeon was a preacher, the celebrity preacher of his day. His sermons were printed, not only in England, but also in America. Thomas Johnson started life as a slave, but, even before the slaves were emancipated, freedom was his through Christ. After the war, he became a preacher as well. His dream--shared by his wife--was to go to Africa as a missionary. Charles Spurgeon helped him realize this goal.

My thoughts: I definitely found this one a fascinating read. I loved both stories. The second half was even better than the first half. By the end, I was EMOTIONAL.

I loved the writing!

What a relevant book for our modern times. This story of Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson reminds us that we are all in need of freedom. It was true then and it's true now. We all have chains that enslave us and we need Someone to set us free.

The story begins when both men were around ten years of age. They were both curious boys wanting to do ten-year-old boy things. But they are from two completely different worlds. Charles is living mostly with his grandparents in England. He's loved and nurtured and valued. Thomas on the other hand was born into slavery on a plantation in Virginia and is beaten and abused into submission.

While it may seem that Thomas is the only one needing his freedom, Charles is plagued by chains of debilitating depression and physical ailments. As the story unfolds you are taken deeper into each man's world and get to see the freedom that only Christ can bring.

While this book is a fictionalized retelling of their lives it is based on the two men's extensive writings. I was moved deeply by both of their stories. When the two finally meet and become good friends later I was delighted to see how each drew strength from the other. There were many facts that I didn't realize about Charles Spurgeon and that makes his writings even more valuable. When he speaks about trusting God in the darkest of hours he's speaking from experience. I knew nothing about Thomas Johnson before this book but I am so glad to have met him this way.

This is a beautiful story of friendship and love between two men, their families, and their God. I recommend it to anyone that needs to experience freedom from what chains them down. You will be encouraged by the story of these two giants of the faith.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Absolutely loved it! Exciting to see how the Lord connects the lives of Charles and Thomas; true spiritual fellowship. The authors really grasped hold of the pain and emotional torment that may of been experienced whether on the slave plantation, in chronic illness, the often realities of depression that are frequently dismissed in christian circles and in death. Yet also competently captured the submissive life to Christ and the effect that had in relationships of both spouse and friend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have heard of Charles Spurgeon as a well known preacher and theologian, but knew very little about his life. I also love historical fiction.

This book starts off by telling the stories of two different men as they grow up and come to faith. Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson lived in the same time period, but their experiences were worlds apart. Eventually their stories intertwine and we learn about their unlikely friendship.

Towards the end I was in tears, this book was so well written and moving, it felt like I knew the characters. I definitely would love to learn more about both Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson.

I wish I could tell which quotes were actually from Spurgeon/Johnson and the other characters versus the authors of the book. But I guess that just means I will have to do some non-fiction reading on these men. I will probably pick up Spurgeon’s Sorrows in the future.

If you love historical fiction, then you should give this book a try.

I received a free digital copy of this book through the publisher and Netgalley.

Steal Away Home: Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson, Unlikely Friends on the Passage to Freedom—wow, that is a mouthful! For the purpose of this review, I'm going to refer to it simply as Steal Away Home. This book is an account of the friendship between Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson.

It seems a fitting book to read as of late. Civil unrest is running high and people are afraid. Past hurts can be hard to heal and our society still has a long way to go to be where we need to be.

My heart absolutely breaks to think about how humans can treat one another in such a degrading and terrible manner. I cried as I read this book. Though not overly graphic—it still hurt my heart. I cannot imagine how a human being can justify owning another human as a slave.
Charles Spurgeon was a preacher that was vehemently against slavery. His sermons were once burned in the southern states because he spoke out on slavery.

Thomas Johnson was a slave that came to know Jesus in secret. When Thomas had nowhere to steal away to, he learned to steal away to Jesus.

Charles and Thomas formed an unlikely friendship that I would love to know more about. In this book we see Thomas helping Charles as he battles the depression that had plagued him since his youth.

Speaking of Charles' depression; I have seen other readers muse about how Charles could teach about hope in Christ when he couldn't find it for his own life. I think it's a common misunderstanding that depression is something one can control. While God is the great physician, it is likely that Charles struggled so because of physical maladies that exasperated his depression. However, by his own account, Charles felt that his physical and mental struggles allowed him to better minister to others. He could understand their pain.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would have liked to have had more time to fully explore the friendship between Thomas and Charles. I also felt that this book largely overlooked Charles' children. I was unsure whether they even survived infancy because they were birthed and not mentioned again.

I think this book would be a good starting place to pique one's interest in the lives of Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson. But, I had many unanswered questions. Did Thomas have children? What became of his own ministry and so on? These questions led me to another book that is titled TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS A SLAVE OR THE STORY OF MY LIFE IN THREE CONTINENTS BY THOMAS L. JOHNSON. I hope that perhaps it will answer some of the questions that I have.

In that, this book did what all good books should. It made me want to learn more about the real-life characters.

As I wrap up this review, I'd like to share the old spiritual that inspired this title. Listen and should you feel led, steal your own heart away to Jesus.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by B&H Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

Thomas Johnson and Charles Spurgeon lived worlds apart. Johnson, an American slave, born into captivity and longing for freedom–Spurgeon, an Englishman born into relative ease and comfort, but, longing too for a freedom of his own. Their respective journeys lead to an unlikely meeting and an even more unlikely friendship, forged by fate and mutual love for the mission of Christ. Steal Away Home is a new kind of book based on historical research, tells a previously untold story set in the 1800’s of the relationship between an African-American missionary and one of the greatest preachers to ever live.

Before reading this book, I knew very little about Charles Spurgeon and even less about Thomas Johnson. Their stories, especially how they came together. I would have liked to know even more about Johnson and his life after the death of Spurgeon. It was amazing and inspiring how much influence these two men had back before the time of the internet and social media. I was also amazed and how much Spurgeon did even with all of his health issues. A reader can certainly tell that the authors did their research and the writing style of the book evoked that. I appreciated how much of both men's actual writing was used in the novel. Then it really felt like you were listening at the feet of these two men. Overall, it was an interesting novel that made me want to learn more about these two men.

To say I loved this book feels like an understatement. It was such an encouragement in the Lord and there are many quotes that I'll carry with me. I had no idea that it was actually historical fiction based on the writings of the two great men when I started it, but quickly appreciated the brilliant angle that it's written from. There are also parts about racism and slavery in contrast with Christianity which I thought were relevant and timely, even now. As I read about the fire that both Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson had for Christ, even in the midst of their own darkness and suffering, it fanned a flame in me as well. I enjoyed the intimate portrait of Spurgeon and Johnson, learned a lot from them, and will be recommending this work to others.

Full disclosure: I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So much has been written by and about Charles Spurgeon. One wonders if there could be more aspects of his life that have not been covered in depth previously. Carter and Ivey do not disappoint. They have thoroughly researched the relationship between Charles Spurgeon and former slave, Thomas Johnson. Carter and Ivey write of the meeting and the continuing relationship with much background information. The authors narrate this historical fiction story well, keeping us absorbed in the book.


Recommended for public libraries, church libraries, and academic libraries with Christianity collections.

This book lovingly tells the story of well-known Pastor Charles Spurgeon of England and his friendship with less well-known Pastor Thomas Johnson, a former slave in the United States. It is a story based on real events, one that includes many word-for-word quotations. However it is a somewhat fictionalized account of these two men’s lives. The story is most beautifully told.
Susannah Spurgeon and Henrietta Johnson, wives of the two pastors, play a key role in the story and in their husbands’ spiritual growth and ministry. Another whose role is key in the spiritual life of Charles Spurgeon, one who was so present he seemed like a real character, essential to the telling, was the depression that hung over Charles from childhood and long into adulthood. His and Susannah’s stories more fully explain the purpose of suffering and why God allows it than anything I’ve read or heard prior to reading this novel.
The reader of Steal Away Home cannot help but be changed, at least a little bit, by the experience. This book is time-worthy for even the busiest person. I most highly recommend it. I wish to thank NetGalley and B & H Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of Steal Away Home in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation.

The legacy of Charles Spurgeon looms over people today about as much as his physical presence seemed to during his life. Today Charles Spurgeon stands as an example for preachers, for evangelists, and for Christians. Reading a book by or about Spurgeon often yields insights into marriage, prayer, and other areas of biblical application that can edify believers of any age. Therefore, readers can often be encouraged to incline themselves towards those books more. This year finds the release of several books centered around Spurgeon, his life, and his teachings including the recent release of Steal Away Home by Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey.
The book tells the stories of both Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson, whose lives eventually crossed in London as Johnson attended the pastor’s college located at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The story finds its essence in God’s sovereign care over Johnson, whose first search for God began on the plantation where he was enslaved until emancipation hit in 1865. The story jumps forward to find Johnson married and eventually making their way to Spurgeon to be trained for the mission field.
The story is a fascinating one that few people probably know. Certainly, the time to find and research this story, especially when information is limited to such a narrow area, required much time and patience for the authors. Their ability to piece together the story from that limited information is masterful. The authors are able to hold reader’s attentions, ensuring engagement with a story that is very personal. Furthermore, the details present a picture of some very trying times, not only for these men but also for culture in general. While physical ailments of the Spurgeon household are disclosed, we also capture insights into some of the other types of struggles that they faced, such as an intense hatred from Americans actively engaged in the possession of slaves. Furthermore, the brutality of such a system is portrayed to show the dread, damage, and disregard for slaves. Certainly, those not part of such a system will not understand all the many facets of such an issue, but the portrayal can cause people to think more intently about how callous and harsh the system was and come away with a more informed understanding of the ongoing repercussions that have resulted from it.
The authors’ candor about their inability to capture all the details is appreciated and they are upfront about the necessity to fill in the details according to their own speculations. In this way, Carter and Ivey’s capability as master storytellers shines forth. Unfortunately, that tremendous ability causes them to contradict their own goal. Lamenting the pillar that Spurgeon has been placed upon, the authors sought out to tell this story in a way that would remove the ‘deification’ of Spurgeon and bring him back to humanity in the eyes of others. Yet, the storytelling often romanticizes relationships and personalities beyond reality. The picture we get of Spurgeon is a man who lacks any flaws apart from the physical ailments of which he had no control. This is not a criticism to suggest we need to destroy the character of Spurgeon; instead, it’s important to acknowledge two points. First, that Spurgeon was a mere man who was imperfect apart from the work of Christ (as he has expressed in his own writings) and thus we must be cautious in elevating any man. Second, although he was an imperfect disciple of Christ, the Lord used Spurgeon’s ministry then and now. I continue to be thankful for what he left behind because the Lord has used it in my own life. So this is not a request for the destruction of Spurgeon’s testimony. Instead, I find it important to point out that the author’s intentions are left unmet by their own capabilities.
Furthermore, the book bills itself as the story of an unlikely friendship between the two men. Yet, the majority of the book discusses their lives as two separate men and spends very little time on their actual friendship. We only seem to get brief glances at the interactions and friendship between the two men. Perhaps this is because the information was so scarce, which is understandable. However, it is contrary to what readers may be expecting of this book.
Steal Away Home is a story of freedom, both physical and spiritual. However, readers should be cautioned to read it through the conviction that both Spurgeon and Johnson are sinful men saved by the grace of God just as any of us are. Regardless, it is engaging and you can be sure that upon reading it you will both learn from it and be moved by it.
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge for the purposes of review. However, the review is not influenced in any way by any person associated with the book and is the result of my own reading of it.

"Steal Away Home" is a Christian historical novel set in 1841 to 1892 in England and America. It's a novel, not a biography or history book. According to the authors, they often used quotations from Spurgeon's or Johnson's own writing and most of the persons, places, and dates were based on real events.

I think I'd have preferred a nonfiction account so I'd know what Spurgeon actually thought versus what parts were the authors' take on the situation. This story just left me with questions. For example, Spurgeon's grandfather was portrayed as good preacher whom Spurgeon frequently heard preach. Yet their young Spurgeon thought of God as angry, condemning, and disgusted with him until a guest preach explained how much Jesus loved him. At the end of his life, they have Spurgeon preach that God's "service is life...peace...joy" yet we're repeatedly told that throughout his life he felt lost, more dead than alive, was crippled with depression and sorrow, and wished he was dead. I can understand why he struggled with depression, but it just came across like he preached a hope that he didn't feel in his own life.

Anyway, the story followed Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson from their youth until Spurgeon's death, showing the defining incidents in their lives. The story took a few chapters before it started moving smoothly forward (as the beginning was description-heavy and jumped around in time). At that point, it was interesting and moved along pretty quickly, but it was still narration-heavy. This book made me want to read a real biography of these two men.

This is by far one of the best books I have read in so long. The two men did great research and were able to simply communicate it in a way that was very engaging. I have already purchased the book for numerous people. I marked the heck out of the book and found that the four people in the book (Charles, Susannah, Thomas, and Henrietta) provided this would with beautiful light in the midst of darkness. If you love Jesus, you need to read this book. If you are in ministry, you need to read this book. If you are suffering or struggling with things in your life, you need to read this book. It is beyond a must read...it is essential that you read this book.

Growing up Catholic, I hadn't heard of Charles Spurgeon before, but really enjoyed learning about him and his friend Thomas, a man who found Jesus in the depths of slavery and went on to preach about the profound freedom found in Christ. I enjoyed the writing style of this book, and the clear love and research that went into its creation. I love the way this book addressed depression, faith, slavery, family, calling and love. I'd highly recommend it!

The amazing story told here is a little known part of Spurgeon's life, but it is completely fascinating. This is not really a biography, and it is not really a history book; rather it simply tells the story of the relationship between Charles Spurgeon and a slave, Thomas Johnson. It is apparent that the authors resrarched these two individuals very well, a task that took them nearly two years.

Section one chronicles Spurgeon's life as a young boy, how the seed of Christ was planted in him. Thomas Johnson's life as a slave is also detailed in this section: duties and responsibilities, formation of his beliefs, and a friend that helped him when he needed guidance. Thomas Johnson was a slave for twenty-eight years.

That friend that guided Thomas Johnson in his everyday life also guided him to the Lord. There is a scene in section two that is full of grace and redemption as the slaves hold a worship service in a shack. This service would change Thomas Johnson into a man seeking to steal away to Jesus. Section two also explores Spurgeon's life as a new preacher and his courtship with Susannah, including their marriage and the birth of their children. As Spurgeon's ministry continued to grow so did his popularity. His church eventually had to move locations to accommodate a record number of attendees. If you are familiar with Spurgeon then you know the tragedy and criticism he faced, as well as his rise above it to continue to spread the Word of God.

Section three recalls the first time Thomas heard of Charles Spurgeon. His master was talking with another preacher at his home, and Thomas listened in as the men ridiculed Spurgeon about sermons full of blasphemy regarding his belief that all slaved should be free. Thomas later had to attend a book burning where everything ever written by Spurgeon was burned due to his condemnation of southern slave owners. Thomas had to endure it, but his longing to be free left his heart burning to seek out Charles Spurgeon. Meanwhile, Spurgeon was not concerned with the revolt against his teachings by the Confederacy. In fact, he was determined to produce more copies of his works than ever before and spread them all around America for anyone who was willing to listen. After the Civil War, Thomas Johnson answered God's call to become a Baptist preacher, although he felt completely unqualified for the job. Ten years after he became a free man Thomas Johnson would receive an opportunity to attend Charles Spurgeon's Pastors' College.

Section four details Johnson's call to attend the college, his first meeting with Charles Spurgeon, and the numerous lessons they learned from each other along the way. Thomas Johnson was trained at Spurgeon’s college in England and commissioned by Spurgeon as a missionary to Africa, a calling that had always held a special place in Johnson's heart.

I would recommend this book to all Christians, especially those who like to read about Spurgeon or the history of slavery in the US and abroad. I received this as a free ARC from B&H Publishing Group on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.