Her Heart Can See offers an intimate, informed look at Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915), the most prolific American hymn writer. Having lost her sight in infancy through a doctor's negligence, Fanny went on to compose more than 9,000 hymns, including such all-time favorites as “Blessed Assurance,” “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” Celebrated in her own day for her gospel hymns, Crosby was also very publicly involved with New York City's rescue missions and with other benevolent efforts. She rubbed shoulders with the likes of Henry Clay, Grover Cleveland, Winfield Scott, Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey, Jenny Lind, P. T. Barnum, and many other famous figures who people these pages. More than two dozen black-and-white photographs depict the people and settings among which Crosby moved. Drawing on primary sources — including thousands of unpublished Crosby manuscripts — Edith Blumhofer sorts fact from fiction in the life of this remarkable woman. Blumhofer responsibly limns Crosby’s life as a gifted nineteenth-century northeastern Protestant woman, in the process showing why “this diminutive woman” was — and is — so beloved. ENDORSEMENTS “Edith Blumhofer has written the definitive biography and authoritative work on Fanny Crosby. Previous studies of Crosby have been inspirational, sentimental pieces that have hallowed her as a glorified saint. Blumhofer has brought together extensive research with creative analysis to tell the real life story of Fanny Crosby as a strong, independent woman.” — Rosemary Skinner Keller “This is a first-rate biography, meticulously researched and elegantly crafted, that shows us why Fanny Crosby's lyrics touched the hearts of millions. In these pages Edith Blumhofer shows the ways in which music, gender, disability, money, and the remarkably ecumenical character of evangelical religion in the late nineteenth century shaped Crosby's life and work. In the process, Blumhofer proves once again that she is a historian of exceptional skill.” — Grant Wacker CONTENTS Introduction 1. Family (1635-1835) 2. Education (1835-1845) 3. Transition (1846-1858) 4. Faith 5. Music 6. Facilitators: George Root and William Bradbury 7. Sunday School 8. Collaborators 9. Gospel Hymns: Context 10. Gospel Hymns: Crosby's “Creed in Metre” 11. Out and About 12. Honor Afterword A Note on the Sources Appendix A: Family Tree Appendix B: A Partial List of Fanny Crosby Pseudonyms Index EERDMANS 2005 26 black & white photographs 6 X 9 inches, 405 pages
	EDITH L. BLUMHOFER is professor of history and director of the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.