Gandhi, Fighter Without a Sword is a biography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi written for children by Jeanette Eaton and illustrated by Ralph Ray. The biography was first published in 1950 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1951.
Mohandas Gandhi, one of the world's greatest figures, has already become a legend. In this book Jeanette Eaton shows him as a human being.
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While still a young man, Gandhi adopted the austere way of living that was his until the day he died. He did not want comforts and luxuries when so many of his countrymen lived in terrible poverty. He ate only the most frugal diet and in his later years wore a peasant's costume. But he himself was anything but austere. Laughter was to him life's most healing gift, even when it was directed against himself. Once he appeared before the king of England in his famous cotton robe and loincloth, and later told an anxious friend that it was all right, because the king wore clothes enough for two.
It was in South Africa that he first became the champion of countless thousands of downtrodden Indian workers. Mahatma, the name by which he became known all over the world, means Great Soul. Gandhi's greatness of soul manifested itself in every deed. He forgave those who injured him. He took Untouchables into his own home as part of his effort to abolish the evil custom which made outcasts of millions of Indians. He tried to unite Hindus and Mohammedans. He labored to free India from the English and died a martyr's death, after having given humanity an unforgettable lesson in brotherhood and peace.
In Jeanette Eaton, Gandhi has a worthy biographer. In her luminous book he lives again as hero, saint, and man.
—from the dust jacket
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