Hinds’ Feet on High Places

By Hannah Hurnard

Illustrated by Jill de Haan & Rachel McNaughton

Chapter One of Hinds’ Feet on High Places begins with a summary: “This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where “perfect love casteth out fear.” This one sentence alerts the reader to the style and genre of this book—an allegory. It follows the journey of the protagonist, Much-Afraid, as she progresses through the ups and downs of life, learning to trust and follow the Chief Shepherd. With deformities to her face that affect her speech and problems with her legs which limit her mobility, she has been bullied mercilessly. When she decides to follow the Chief Shepherd to ascend mountain heights where all will be healed, she is embarking upon an adventure with Sorrow and Suffering as her companions, but she eventually sees the value of these new friends and learns how to fight against her old foes from the Valley of Humiliation.

Hinds’ Feet on High Places has maintained its popularity with Christians with many rereading it at various stages of life. I can see how multiple readings would be valuable: learning new lessons about drawing close to Jesus in every stage of life. This is my first reading of the book (a book club selection), and I chose this illustrated version. It is a masterpiece of art and design. There are lovely watercolors and photographs throughout. Verses from the Songs of Solomon (canticles) are part of the story and are illustrated with delicate, color drawings. The book includes  designated places for the reader to briefly note the “memorial stones” in his or her life just as Much-Afraid collected a memorial stone to put in her pouch from each of the altars along the way that commemorate her laying down a fear or trouble. 

There are a number of verses that are drawn out on a full page with color illustrations. Then those same drawings are repeated again at the back of the book as outlines for those who enjoy coloring.

An independent missionary in Israel, Hannah Hurnard wrote this book during a three week period when she was visiting Switzerland following the death of her father in England. Her story of that visit and a brief autobiography are included at the end of the book. She wrote several books, but she is best known for Hinds’ Feet on High Places.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Allegory, Fiction

Notes: 1. Inspired by Habakkuk 3:19: “The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

    2. Full disclosure—I did not write or color in my copy of the book. It is just too beautiful!

    3. This version makes a wonderful gift to be enjoyed and treasured.

Publication:   1.This illustrated version: January 1, 2017—Tyndale House

2. The original paperback version without illustrations was first published on January 1, 1955 by Christian Literature Crusade.

Memorable Lines:

“You can’t mean it. You said if I would trust you, you would bring me to the High Places, and that path leads right away from them. It contradicts all that you promised.”  “No,” said the Shepherd, “it is not contradiction, only postponement for the best to become possible.”

She had the feeling that somehow, in the very far-off places, perhaps even in far-off ages, there would be a meaning found to all sorrow and an answer too fair and wonderful to be as yet understood.

“That is the only really satisfactory way of dealing with evil, not simply binding it so that it cannot work harm, but whenever possible overcoming it with good.”