The Foreigner

A Story of Ruth

De: Gladys Malvern

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

It is the time of the Judges in Israel, and famine has swept through the land. The family of Elimelech has come to the prosperous but alien land of Moab to buy food for their people. Their two sons, though suffering from chronic illness, thrive in this pleasant land, and wives must be found for them. In the same city, two sisters live in a cold and unfriendly home; while blessed with material wealth, they are starving for love and affection.A match is made, and Ruth and her sister Orphah join the affectionate and kind Hebrew family. But tragedy strikes after several happy years, and a long and difficult journey back to the family home in Bethlehem lies ahead.They must make the painful decision of leaving their beloved country and becoming despised outcasts in a land which hates them, or staying and returning to their cold and resentful parents. How can they bear to part from their mother-in-law Naomi, who has loved them so well? But how can they leave their gods and people behind?How can Ruth endure the stigma of being a Foreigner?Out of print for more than 20 years, this special edition is presented in a large, trade size paperback format, suitable for collecting.

Personal favorite

Originally published in 1954, this book had a few years on it when I found and read it as a child. Malvern was a fairly popular author of books for children that were based on real historical figures.
In this case, it was the figure of Ruth from the Bible. Almost all Christian and Jewish children know the basic story that Ruth voluntarily followed her Jewish mother-in-law back to her home in Bethlehem out of love and devotion. Naomi likely would not have survived the trip alone. It’s Ruth’s words pledging herself to Naomi that have stood the test of time and made her story significant enough to add to the Bible. It wasn’t until I read this story that I came to understand that Ruth was also an ancestor of David who was, in turn, an ancestor of Jesus.
I enjoyed this story so much that, years later, as an adult, I tracked down and purchased a print copy of the book. I’ve been checking for more years to see if someone created a digitized copy, and here we are. Kudos to whoever accomplished this as Malvern’s books were worthy of being preserved for future generations of children.
Virtual Voice narration was just barely adequate, but acceptable under the circumstances. The mispronunciation of Mahlon kept annoying me.
This book is a recommend. Always.