Icon and Outcast

Jonathan Goble (1827-1896) was the most colorful and aggressive missionary in nineteenth-century Japan. The maverick Baptist won acclaim as inventor of the rickshaw, translator of the oldest extant Bible portion published in Japan, and pioneer in the distribution of Scriptures. But he was disliked for his volcanic temper, violent acts, and shady ethics. The missionary icon became an outcast.

This book grew out of the author's 1990 work, Jonathan Goble of Japan, which earned these reviews:

"A fascinatingly colorful personality comes to life in the pages of this scholarly book."-New York History

"Outstanding study of the complexities of one missionary . excellent example of the historian's craft."-Journal of Japanese Studies

"The book blends good scholarship with human interest, rich local color, and readability. It will reward any reader."-Missiology

The present work, newly written with fresh insights, offers a different perspective on an extraordinary missionary. Aimed at a wider audience, it too will reward any reader.