Elaine Neil Orr

Unexpected Abundance

Women

“A long overdue book, joyously written, Elizabeth Felicetti’s Unexpected Abundance deftly examines the lives of historical women whose ‘barrenness’ offers opportunity for the development and outpouring of other spiritual gifts. Among these women are Queen Esther, Mary Magdalene, Julian of Norwich, but also Queen Elizabeth I, Dolly Parton, and Rosa Parks. Beginning with a brilliantly conceived analysis of the ‘barren ground’ of her childhood, Felicetti demonstrates how the Arizona desert actually yielded: grapefruit, pomegranate, olives. Barrenness becomes a foundation for flowering. Unexpected Abundance offers powerful, and often witty, testimony to all the ways we have limited our understanding of women’s prophetic and creative power. Here is Elizabeth Felicetti offering up the best possible corrective.”