Amy Carmichael

Book summary by Sweetpea, on

A Chance to Die
The life and legacy of Amy Carmichael

Written by Elisabeth Elliot


A Chance to Die was written by Elisabeth Elliot, who visited the Dohnavur compound in India, where she had access to Amy Carmichael’s correspondence and photograph’s. She spent much time researching and interviewing, and she spent forty years, reading Amy’s books and as a result, has written a reverent biography, which has the entire life of Amy Carmichael, Amma, Irish missionary to India.

Amy Carmichael was born December 16, 1867 to David and Catherine Jane Filson Carmichael, in the village of Millisle on the North coast of Ireland. They lived in a grey stone house, one of the three larger houses in the village. The house was surrounded by a garden and a high wall with a large gate opening.
In the garden there were roses, ivy, apple trees, yellow whins, and heartsease.
Amy had six younger siblings: (Amy), Norman, Ernest, Eva, Ethel, Walter, and Alfred.
At the Carmichael house there were always pets and books and toys.
The children were not schooled in younger years, but by a succession of governesses.
When Amy was twelve years old, she went to boarding school.
When Amy was nearly eighteen, her father died of double pneumonia on April 12, 1885, at the age of fifty four.
At age twenty four Amy heard the calling of God to become a missionary.
Finally, on March 3, 1893 Amy sailed for Japan. On April 14, Amy arrived safely at Shanghai. Amy worked at Japan for a while then caught “Japanese Head” and was forced to go on a long rest. While she was on her “long rest”, she heard the calling to go to Ceylon. She went on July 28, 1894. A year later on October 11, 1895, she went to India.
She worked in India for the rest of her life. She did many things there. The main thing that she did there was saving and taking care of the Children of India and teaching them of God’s love. She loved all of the children very much.
January 18, 1951 Amy Carmichael, “Amma”, died. She was buried in a garden, and her grave is the only one that has a head stone, a bird bath, with “Ammai” written on it.
Amy lived a long well used life for God and whatever she did, she asked God first, did it for Him, and for her children.

This is a very good book. It has some really good pictures in it. I really enjoyed it and I really recommend it for reading.