Through Gates of Splendor
Encyclopedia
Through Gates of Splendor is a 1957
best selling book written by Elisabeth Elliot
. The book tells the story of Operation Auca
, an attempt by five American missionaries - Jim Elliot
(the author's husband), Pete Fleming
, Ed McCully
, Nate Saint
, and Roger Youderian
- to reach the Huaorani
tribe of eastern Ecuador
. All five of the men were killed by the tribe. The book is Elliot's first book, and arguably her most well known work.
The title of the book is derived from the fourth stanza of the hymn "We Rest on Thee
". This hymn was famously sung by the missionaries before the men left for Waodaoni territory in September 1955. The lines read:
Elliot wrote the book while still a missionary in Ecuador. She wrote the book at the request and cooperation from the families of the five men. She was given copies of letters and other writings which were extensively quoted from in the book. The original edition of the book was first published in 1957, one year before the first peaceful contact with the Huaorani was made. In subsequent publications of the book, epilogues have been added to tell about what has happened to the Huaorani tribe since Operation Auca, and what has happened to the missionaries' families.
In 1967, a documentary film of the same name was produced which included much of the film footage shot by Nate Saint at "Palm Beach". Elisabeth Elliot narrated the film. It was based on Through Gates of Splendor as well as her later book, The Savage My Kinsman.
1957 in literature
The year 1957 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Lawrence Durrell publishes the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet. The final of the four volumes will be published in 1960....
best selling book written by Elisabeth Elliot
Elisabeth Elliot
Elisabeth Elliot is a Christian author and speaker. Her first husband, Jim Elliot, was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca of eastern Ecuador. She later spent two years as a missionary to the tribe members who killed her husband...
. The book tells the story of Operation Auca
Operation Auca
Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador...
, an attempt by five American missionaries - Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot
Philip James Elliot was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.-Early life:...
(the author's husband), Pete Fleming
Pete Fleming
Peter Sillence Fleming was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.- Early life :Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington...
, Ed McCully
Ed McCully
Edward "Ed" McCully was an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people, through efforts known as Operation Auca.-Early years:...
, Nate Saint
Nate Saint
Nathanael "Nate" Saint was an evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
, and Roger Youderian
Roger Youderian
Roger Youderian was an Armenian-American evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
- to reach the Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
tribe of eastern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. All five of the men were killed by the tribe. The book is Elliot's first book, and arguably her most well known work.
The title of the book is derived from the fourth stanza of the hymn "We Rest on Thee
Finlandia Hymn
The Finlandia Hymn refers to a serene hymn-like section of the patriotic symphonic poem Finlandia, written in 1899 and 1900 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius...
". This hymn was famously sung by the missionaries before the men left for Waodaoni territory in September 1955. The lines read:
- We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender.
- Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
- When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
- Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
Elliot wrote the book while still a missionary in Ecuador. She wrote the book at the request and cooperation from the families of the five men. She was given copies of letters and other writings which were extensively quoted from in the book. The original edition of the book was first published in 1957, one year before the first peaceful contact with the Huaorani was made. In subsequent publications of the book, epilogues have been added to tell about what has happened to the Huaorani tribe since Operation Auca, and what has happened to the missionaries' families.
The film
External links
- At Amazon.com
- Words & music to “We Rest on Thee” at the Cyber Hymnal