Title: The Bishop’s Shadow
Author: I. T. Thurston
Major Themes: Homelessness, Street Children, Massachusetts, Boston
Synopsis: When a street boy meets a godly bishop and learns to love him, his life is changed forever.
About 25 years ago, I came across The Bishop’s Shadow, read it and enjoyed it, and sold it in my small bookstore. When my children were young, I read it to them, but hadn’t read it for over 15 years. One of them requested it to be read aloud again recently, and I enjoyed the opportunity to revisit an old friend again.
Tode lived on the streets. He had never known his parents, and couldn’t even remember his true name. He lived by his wits and was quite happy one day when he was able to snatch a woman’s purse and use the money in it. Then, for the first time in his life, he found himself caring about someone besides himself, and helped a girl find a home for herself and her baby brother.
Soon after this, Tode met up with a bishop, and through an accident, found himself living in the bishop’s house under false presences. He overheard a conversation that filled him with guilt, and he knew he had to change his ways. But was it possible to atone for the wrongs he had done? He set himself to make everything right.
The Bishop’s Shadow, written 80 or 100 years ago, is rather moralistic, as older books tend to be. On the other hand, it isn’t perfect. Tode, or Theodore as he became known, had to work hard for what he had. He did wrong things at the beginning. After his life turned around, it did seem that he did everything right, which felt a bit unrealistic, but it does set a good example. One thing we did notice was that there never seemed to be a time when Theodore surrendered his life to the Lord; he merely decided to live a good life, and did so. This might give a message to some that it is possible to live a godly life without God’s help.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15
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