Grace Livingston Hill

We often receive questions about Grace Livingston Hill. Mrs. Hill is a topic worthy of scrutiny, especially for Christian parents of avid young feminine readers. Her books all deal with Christianity, and she wrote a very large number of them. Thus, there are two questions that surface in relation to Mrs. Hill and her works—how good are they?—and how much is enough? These, of course, are questions that belong in the end to parents, and we hope that the following information will be helpful in arriving at some answers.

There are many good things about Mrs. Hill's books. Her Christian characters are wonderful. Those not having a Christian background could learn much about what Christian parents and family should be like. Her descriptions of a Christian home are literally inspiring. Her Christian heroes are people of high standards and moral purity. Her pictures of evil are very evil. There is a clear line of demarcation between good and evil. With a list like this, could there be any doubts? Well, a list of pluses never tells the whole story. Let’s get the rest of the picture and then you decide.

It is true, as we said, that sin is portrayed as evil—very evil. However, that word "very", as appropriate as it may seem, may be a problem more than a help here. You see, the detail and exactness with which Mrs. Hill describes evil sometimes almost rivals her elaboration on things that are good and pure.

The standard or guideline to be used when dealing with subjects such as sin and evil should probably always be the Bible. When the Bible relates evil, there is little if no descriptive detail given. It is cut and dried. Evil is evil—it happened—end of story. David saw Bathsheba, sent for her, and sent her home. Your mind is not left visualizing the details because the Bible offers no elaboration on, or dramatization of, the incident. The reader is made privy to none of the sensual details of the relationship, and, thus, is not even tempted to be swept up in any lustful or sinful thoughts or imaginations.

Mrs. Hill, on the other hand, spends a rather generous amount of ink describing and detailing the ways of the wicked, but "Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen..." —Jeremiah 10:2. Psalm 106:35 "But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works," warns us against indulging ourselves in more such knowledge than is necessary to avoid evil. Mrs. Hill, in her graphic style, really allows the reader to "learn the ropes" when it comes to such things. Even if it was not a scriptural command to avoid this, it would be mere common sense. Whereas it is a good idea to inform a child of the evils and consequences of taking drugs, would it not become counter productive to teach that young person how to identify the different drugs, how they are taken, how one feels when one is high on these drugs, etc?

Then, there is the treatment of the reality of the Christian life. Cinderella endings conclude most, if not all of Mrs. Hill’s books. The story line is almost always the same—poor Christian girl meets wealthy Christian man, who rescues her and her family out of poverty and hard times, and they all live happily and prosperously ever after. It makes for a pleasing tale, always a delight to the readers senses, but a steady diet of this fare offers a distorted view of life in general, and is poor preparation for young readers to learn to trust God that difficulties may be sent by Him. It portrays a God who answers all problems in this world with worldly prosperity.

Our God does answer prayers, but seldom by whisking our problems away. He gives us grace to live above them, and meets our needs in them. The Bible often describes this refining and maturing process. These books tend to create in an immature mind a wishful attitude, and a heart that prays for prosperity rather than grace. Such stories can easily cause dissatisfaction with one’s daily lot, and even cause discontentment and murmuring. They can lead to the kind of prosperity thinking that influences so many Christians to pray for things that God would have them shun, and to choose greater prosperity over biblical truth in a situation, because they "just know" that God "opened the door" because He certainly would want them to prosper.

Mrs. Hill’s masculine heroes are almost too handsome and wonderful to be true! In fact, again, as a steady diet, they can easily separate the reader from the truth of life as it is for most of us. After spending an afternoon reading about the tall, dark, handsome, and wealthy man to the rescue, our man comes home who often is tired, dusty, and never seems to have enough money. There is an unconscious tendency to look at our plumber or mechanic, who is not nearly as sentimental and romantic as Mrs. Hill's debonair and thoughtful hero, and be disappointed with real-life, imperfect flesh and blood. If only we had met one of Mrs. Hill's heroes, how different our life might have been . . . Seeds of discontent can easily be sown in a woman's heart by the stories she reads. And what will a young lady feel toward her future husband once the newness of marriage has worn off, if she is used to being romanced by Mrs. Hill’s always perfect, wealthy heroes?

For whatever good they contain, Mrs. Hill's books would probably all fall under the classification "romance novels." We need to remember that romance novels with some good descriptions of Christians added are still romance novels. The highlight of each book is a romantic process based on random dating. In one in particular story, it was necessary to muddle through 80% of the book before there was even a mention of God or the Christian life. And what mention there was, was minimal, leaving no clear testimony.

There may be a few really good books among the many she wrote. Would they be okay to read? Sure! Which ones are they? We could not say. One might read through a mountain to find them. What pattern is already set in the reader’s mind in finding them? Are they profitable? Do they truly further the Christian walk of holiness and draw the reader nearer to the Lord? Would Jesus spend His time reading Mrs. Hill's books?

I just read most of your reviews of various authors of classics, etc. I noticed a theme running through them: most books you have reviewed are unacceptable because of the role/example made by a woman. For what it is worth, I believe that Satan seeks to enable women, young women, and girls to live in a fantasy world that does not require them to think. Given that women are more often “seekers” of spiritual things, the enemy plays on that. I have found even novels to leave me wanting my knight in shining armor to meet my expectations, spoken and unspoken. He never does. Thank you for your reviews and constant encouragement to keep the faith. As for me I have two boys my husband and I will raise to lead their families in faith.