author
George Wood Anderson
b. 1873
A Methodist pastor, evangelist, and hymn writer from Ohio, he brought a preacher’s warmth and a musician’s ear to his essays. His work blends plainspoken faith, moral reflection, and encouragement that still feels personal and direct.
1 Audiobook
Unfinished Rainbows, and Other Essays
by George Wood Anderson
About the author
Born on December 8, 1873, in Belle Center, Ohio, George Wood Anderson was educated at Ohio Wesleyan University and went on to become a Methodist pastor, traveling evangelist, lecturer, and hymn writer. Sources about his life consistently describe him as both a religious leader and an accomplished musician, which helps explain the thoughtful, lyrical tone of his writing.
Anderson also spent time in service work during and just after World War I, including YMCA work with American forces in France and with the American Army of Occupation. Alongside preaching and public speaking, he wrote books and essays of Christian reflection, with Unfinished Rainbows, and Other Essays remaining his best-known work.
What makes his writing distinctive is its mix of conviction and accessibility. He wrote for ordinary readers rather than specialists, using everyday images and a hopeful, sermon-shaped style to explore faith, character, struggle, and renewal.