Four Birds of Noah’s Ark: A Prayer Book from the Time of Shakespeare by Thomas Dekker

Four Birds of Noah’s Ark: A Prayer Book from the Time of Shakespeare by Thomas Dekker, Robert Hudson (Editor) ISBN-13: 9780802874818 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Released: Oct. 1, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
As the Black Death ravaged London in 1608, the theaters closed, many people moved out of town for safety, and playwrights scrambled to find other outlets for their talent. While Shakespeare retreated to his hometown of Stratford, Thomas Dekker wrote Four Birds of Noah's Ark, a book containing fifty-six prayers for the people of London and all of England.

Dekker's prayers bear witness to his deep faith and profound understanding of human psychology with a power and poignancy that few written prayers in English literature achieve. Bringing this devotional classic back into print for the first time since 1924, editor Robert Hudson has included a fine introduction, annotated the prayers, and modernized the language without sacrificing any of its beauty and simplicity.

This lovely book at once surprises and enchants with its literary voice, devotional heart, and accessible writing.


My Review:
Four Birds of Noah’s Ark is a prayer book written in 1608 during an outbreak of the Black Death. Unsurprisingly, the author (a playwright) worked the thought that death could happen at any time into many of his prayers.

The prayers were divided into 4 sections. The first section had prayers for common laborers, like sailors, midwives, women about the give birth, apprentices, servants, and farmers. The second section contained prayers for the more upper class people, like the clergy, lawyers, king, and nobles. The third section had prayers about the seven deadly sins. The fourth section had prayers thanking God for our salvation through Jesus Christ. The final section was a collection of sayings by early church fathers, like Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory.

This version has updated the language of the original prayers so that modern readers can understand his meaning. The prayers give a unique perspective on the thoughts and beliefs of the time period, or at least of Thomas Dekker. The prayers were based off of Scripture and had sentiments even modern readers can relate to. Overall, I'd recommend this book if you find old prayer books interesting.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.