Hesba Stretton - A Thorny Path: "The most wretched man cannot die when he will, or as quickly as he will"

More about the book

The author, born Sarah Smith, was a prominent 19th-century Evangelical writer known for addressing social issues through children's literature. Using the pen name Hesba Stretton, she gained fame with her breakout book, "Jessica's First Prayer," which sold over 1.5 million copies, outpacing even "Alice in Wonderland." Her works, often inspired by her experiences with slum children, highlighted the plight of the poor and influenced Victorian social consciousness. Stretton was also a co-founder of the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, reflecting her commitment to social reform.