"God only knows the endless possibilities that lie enfolded in each of us." - Lilias Trotter In the late 19th century, Lilias Trotter stood at the threshold of artistic fame, her extraordinary talent praised by the renowned critic John Ruskin. Yet, at the height of her promise, she made a radical choice that would define the course of her life. Turning away from worldly recognition and social convention, she forged her own path—one that led her through the roughest streets of London and, ultimately, to the deserts of North Africa. There, her artistic and spiritual journeys intertwined as she expanded the many-colored canvas of her creativity to embrace not only the sweeping vistas of the Sahara, but also the lives of the Arab people she loved. Blending biography, personal engagement, and theological reflection, Trafton takes readers on an intimate journey with Lily as her friends knew her - a visionary who saw the world with an artist's eye and a missionary's heart, and whose imaginative empathy and creative compassion transformed the lives of those she encountered. More than the story of one remarkable woman, this book is an invitation to experience the beauty of creation with fresh wonder, to look at our neighbors through new lenses, and to discover what "beautiful possible life" awaits each one of us as we follow the call of the Divine Artist.
| ISBN: | 9781087784526 |
| Publication date: | 14th April 2026 |
| Author: | Jennifer Trafton |
| Publisher: | B&H Books an imprint of B&H Publishing Group |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 320 pages |
| Genres: |
Religious and ceremonial art Biography: general Biography: religious and spiritual Literature: history and criticism Christianity Gender studies: women and girls |
"God only knows the endless possibilities that lie enfolded in each of us." - Lilias Trotter In the late 19th century, Lilias Trotter stood at the threshold of artistic fame, her extraordinary talent praised by the renowned critic John Ruskin. Yet, at the height of her promise, she made a radical choice that would define the course of her life. Turning away from worldly recognition and social convention, she forged her own path—one that led her through the roughest streets of London and, ultimately, to the deserts of North Africa. There, her artistic and spiritual journeys intertwined as she expanded the many-colored canvas of her creativity to embrace not only the sweeping vistas of the Sahara, but also the lives of the Arab people she loved. Blending biography, personal engagement, and theological reflection, Trafton takes readers on an intimate journey with Lily as her friends knew her - a visionary who saw the world with an artist's eye and a missionary's heart, and whose imaginative empathy and creative compassion transformed the lives of those she encountered. More than the story of one remarkable woman, this book is an invitation to experience the beauty of creation with fresh wonder, to look at our neighbors through new lenses, and to discover what "beautiful possible life" awaits each one of us as we follow the call of the Divine Artist.
If Only We Could See features in the following genres: Religious and ceremonial art, Biography: general, Biography: religious and spiritual, Literature: history and criticism, Christianity, Gender studies: women and girls
If Only We Could See is available in Hardback
If Only We Could See was written by Jennifer Trafton and published by B&H Books an imprint of B&H Publishing Group
If Only We Could See has 320 pages
£14.39