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Four Score and Counting: The autobiography of Gijsbrechtus Bulthuis
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About Four Score And Counting: The Autobiography Of
This fascinating first-person immigrant narrative, with its startling twists and turns, is not a “rags to riches” story; rather, it’s one of faith and endurance, of storing up “treasure in heaven.” In his “Concluding Words,” Gijsbrechtus Bulthuis writes, “Looking back on my long life, I’m convinced I was an ordinary guy.” Yet, if you follow his life story from its beginning to its end, you will find he was an extraordinary person whose faith carried him through the storms of life he encountered as a young farm laborer in the Netherlands, as an immigrant in the bustling city of Chicago, as a farmer and church elder in Iowa. Along with five younger siblings, Gijsbrechtus Bulthuis was orphaned before he turned fourteen. Numerous times he traveled through the “valley of the shadow of death,” but he always emerged with his faith intact. He was a man of prayer; he spoke “the language of Canaan”; he championed Christian education. Gijsbrechtus Bulthuis doesn’t get tangled up in poetic reverie or awestruck reverence for his past—even though he respected and cherished his Netherlands roots. His prose is generally straightforward, although in some instances his well-told story is punctuated with creatively crafted phrases and flashes of keen insight. It is frequently tinted by the author’s firm faith in God and the application of his theology to everyday life. Scripture often comes “bubbling up to the surface” of his “memory tank.” Bilingual touches add authenticity to this inviting autobiography, but they do not slow the reader’s pace. Geography and history were Bulthuis’s favorite subjects in school—and throughout his long life. His natural and persistent inquisitiveness is reflected in his life story, in which he delves into subjects such as his family tree, church history (especially the Afscheiding, the secession from the state church), immigration, and Dutch settlement in the United States. At the conclusion of each chapter readers will find numerous annotations; taken together, they are a cornucopia of inviting historical tidbits that will satisfy the appetite of readers who relish traveling beyond the storyline. They are far more than run-of-the-mill footnotes; rather, they are choice morsels of editorial comment that reflect a wide acquaintance with authoritative historical resources, many of which are listed in an extensive bibliography. Numerous images illustrate and embellish the text. For those not acquainted with the Dutch language, a glossary/pronunciation guide of Dutch terms is especially helpful.
