A small flimsy book with a glossy white soft cover the front of which is mostly occupied by one of the well-known portaits of the young Barnardo, with the title, subtitle and author printed in green on the front, and the narrow spine omits the subtitle.

The title page has the main title and author in large bold capitals and the subtitle in italics. The publishers, beneath an oval insignia, are given as from London and Redhill, but there is no date. The verso gives the year of publication under the copyright, followed by the statement that the book is produced 'in complete conformity with the authorized economy standards' and it was printed by Jarrolds in Norwich.

The Contents list 18 pithily named chapters in 91 pages, and the dedication is to the author's Aunt and Uncle. No reference sources are given but on page 20 there is a direct and acknowledged quote from Barnardo of Stepney by A.E.Williams(see Notes 7). There is a publisher's note after the last page confirming the writer's aim to attract young readers.

Comment: a slight book.

The text is in a friendly and direct style, with a clear attempt to disentangle the real Barnardo from charitable traditions of the 1940's, and enhance his appeal to young readers. Barnardo's childhood and conversion are presented with feeling, and, in keepig with the title, the call to become a missionary in China is a recurrent theme that is behind the early missioning work in London, but the latter then becomes the prior call. The main stories of the establishment of Dr. Barnardo's Homes are presented in what is basically Barnardo's own language, a little embellished, and with good accounts of his valiant spiritual and physical struggles. The measurements of success, or low level of failure, are summarised. There is an interesting additional theme throughout of Barnardo's referrals to the language of Dickens.

Comment: the style, probable influence of Williams's book, and purposeful appeal to young people may well have had a fund-raising motive.