Elizabeth Goldsmith – författare

The Mancini Sisters, Marie and Hortense, were born in Rome, brought to the court of Louis XIV of France, and strategically married off by their uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, to secure his political power base. Such was the life of many young women of the age: they had no independent status under the law and were entirely a part of their husband's property once married. Marie and Hortense, however, had other ambitions in mind altogether. Miserable in their marriages and determined to live independently, they abandoned their husbands in secret and began lives of extraordinary daring on the run and in the public eye. The beguiling sisters quickly won the affections of noblemen and kings alike. Their flight became popular fodder for salon conversation and tabloids, and was closely followed by seventeenth-century European society. The Countess of Grignan remarked that they were traveling"like two heroines out of a novel.” Others gossiped that they"were roaming the countryside in pursuit of wandering lovers.” Their scandalous behaviour- disguising themselves as men, gambling, and publicly disputing with their husbands- served as more than just entertainment. It sparked discussions across Europe concerning the legal rights of husbands over their wives.Elizabeth Goldsmith's vibrant biography of the Mancini sisters- drawn from personal papers of the players involved and the tabloids of the time- illuminates the lives of two pioneering free spirits who were feminists long before the word existed.

ElizabethGoldsmith was born in China to missionary parents. Sent to boarding school at ayoung age, the school was held in the Second World War and became a Japaneseprison camp. Losing her mother during this time, her childhood years gaveElizabeth many opportunities to begin to see God's faithfulness in action. Becominga missionary herself, Elizabeth served alongside her husband with OMF inIndonesia whilst raising her family. In later years, the couple were integralto the ministry of All Nations Christian College where they helped equip newgenerations for service on the mission field.  Whilstcircumstances tested her faith on many occasions, Elizabeth’s testimony showsrepeatedly that God can indeed be trusted. God Can Be Trustedwill help you:·        Gain an inside look intomissionary life ·        Be confident in your faith journey as youdiscover the testimony of a woman who has dedicated her life to God·        Give an inspirational gift to anyone who loves tohear about God at work in the world

Tracing her family history from 1816, the author provides a fascinating account of five generations of missions activity. Covers the founding of the WEC mission organisation, and missionaries in sucessive generations of the family: Royal Wilder, Robert Wilder, Grace Hoyte (nee Wilder), Elizabeth Goldsmith (nee Hoyte), Ruth Valerio (nee Goldsmith).