Ishmael & Self Raised Special
Original price was: $70.00.$59.00Current price is: $59.00.
You will never read a story that is more inspiring and challenging than Ishmael. The heights of success achieved by this young man reveal little of the utter poverty into which he was born. He entered life motherless and poor, and despite the wishes of everyone around, he survived and flourished in his paltry environment. His commitment to character and integrity and his singular focus on preserving his mother’s name gave his life focus and purpose. His perseverance and determination to educate himself in law gave him the opportunity to influence the highest levels of government. E.D.E.N. Southworth captures the rich panorama of sights and sounds in rural Maryland in the decades prior to the Civil War. When you reach the end, don’t despair!—the drama continues in the sequel, Self Raised!
Southworth continues the story of Ishmael Worth in Self-Raised. From the sultry heat of Cuba to the gloomy crags of northern Scotland, Ishmael stands resolute in his commitment to those he loves. Whether he is wrestling with the icy hand of death or carefully mending broken hearts, Ishmael is ever thinking of the welfare of those around him. You can always count on Ishmael to be the rock that others need to help them through the most difficult of trials. When you finally close the book, you will cry out in sorrow that there are no more pages to read on the life of this beloved young man.
11 reviews for Ishmael & Self Raised Special
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anonymous (verified owner) –
Ismael series This story is AMAZING!!!! What an amazing character and spirit from the main character when so many books in our day have no worth. Thank you lamplighter we love your book club!!!! Get this book for your family, friends, coworkers, anyone you know; they will love it!!! I cannot say enough good things about it!
anonymous (verified owner) –
Highly Recommended The book grabs you as soon as you begin to read it. These books are very hard to put down.
anonymous (verified owner) –
7 Stars! 😉 I absolutely love these books. Ishmael’s integrity, honesty, commitment, and godliness encouraged and inspired me to be more like this fictitious character. It is extremely well written, beautifully bound, and an overall great story. Recommended for anyone in any stage of life!
anonymous (verified owner) –
Excellent Books I bought these books again as I gave my other two away. These are incredible books that are extremely difficult to put down. Everyone that’s read them has the same experience. From the well read to the lesser; my friends and family have enjoyed these immensely. I highly recommend them. They’re one of my favorites for a riveting plot!!
anonymous (verified owner) –
Ishmael & Self Raised Special I enjoyed these books. They are well written and the characters are true to life. The themes are excellent and show the integrity of the characters.
anonymous (verified owner) –
Captivating!! These are my absolute favorite books…EVER. I cried so hard in the first few chapters. As soon as I finished them, I started reading them over again.
anonymous (verified owner) –
Brilliant! One of the best books I’ve ever read!
anonymous (verified owner) –
Ismael and Self Raised These two books I purchased for our daughter and I am always delighted on the quality of your books. Not only the story and it’s message but also the covers of these books are beautiful! Thank you
Sarah Prenevost –
The Finding of “Ishmael” and “The Hidden Hand”
Was this house really a part of the Underground Railroad? As I glanced at this house every day while on my way to work, I noticed the date inscribed on the door post – 1807. The house always intrigued me, and the stories surrounding the supposed tunnel that was dug under the street for the slaves made the mystery surrounding its history even more intriguing. Then the day came – the house was to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and all of it contents!
It was a Saturday and my son said, “Dad, take a look at this book.” The spine was missing its stitched binding, and the six-hundred-plus pages were enveloped within an old worn leather cover. “There must be pages missing,” I thought. But upon closer inspection, they were all there. I probably wouldn’t ever read this voluminous story, but the leather cover was inviting. It would certainly make a nice mantle piece.
The bidding began. “Who will give me fifty cents? A dollar? Two? Sold! For two dollars.” I don’t know why, but my heart was pounding.
The book sat on my bookshelf for two years. The lengthiest book I had ever read was three hundred pages at most. Six hundred? Not a chance. But for some reason, that Christmas vacation the book beckoned me, and I picked it up. I read the preface, and what I read so captured my attention that I knew I had to begin. What was in the preface that so drew me in? It said that this was the best book to have been written in the nineteenth century! What a claim! I was hooked.
As I nestled down to read the first chapter, cradled in my favorite leather chair, with the fire roaring in the fireplace, I knew I had stumbled upon something that may indeed have been the best crafted story in all of the 19th century. I simply could not put it down. I read until 3:00 a.m. the first night, and then took three days off of work to finish the story. It has now been seven years later, and I must say that it still holds as my all-time favorite story. But, that is not the reason I am writing to you.
The reason for this letter is to tell you what happened after I read The Hidden Hand. After completing this on-the-edge-of-your-seat story, I began searching for other stories by the same author, and I found one -Ishmael. As soon as it was in my possession, I began reading and found that this story, though very different than The Hidden Hand, was every bit as captivating. In fact, the day I finished it, I was so inspired that I contacted the county prison and asked if they would like someone to come and share stories that would inspire, instruct, and encourage the prisoners in regard to the cultivation of moral character and a life of excellence. There must have been a “hidden hand” working behind the scenes because they invited me to start at 7 that evening. It often takes years for this kind of door to open. Inmates still write about how deeply they were moved by the stories they heard. Lives continue to be changed and it is all because of a life lived well through the true story of Ishmael Worth.
Now, seven years and hundreds of letters later, we hear from prisoners, teens, teachers, and parents about two books they consider to be in the Wordcrafter’s Hall of Fame – The Hidden Hand and Ishmael. Oh, one more thing -there is a sequel to Ishmael. I almost had a nervous breakdown when I began reading the last paragraph in Ishmael, only to find out that I needed to find the sequel that had been out of circulation for over one hundred and fifty years! But I found it!
Sarah Prenevost –
“I loved how the story of Ishmael not only intrigued me but pulled on every heartstring and emotion and ended with the glory of God and His providence over our lives. It was a life changing book for me. It has compelled me to work harder and with more diligence all for God’s glory!” – JeNee
Sarah Prenevost –
“I finished Ishmael and Self Raised in about three weeks.They were probably the best books I have ever read – and believe me, I’ve read a lot! Thank you so much for recommending them. I loved them so much and I really feel like they brought me closer to God. Out of all of the characters in the book Bee was my favorite. Her love for God, her gentleness, and her devotion are just some of the things about her that I’ve been striving to attain. It was almost like she was a role model to me! Even though it sounds kind of funny, it’s true. The books influence me a lot and I feel closer to God than I ever have before. Thank you so much – I can’t wait to start The Hidden Hand!” – Ali B. B