Douthwaite of the Double Dragon is an account of a life spent for man and God. The book is based partly on academic research but principally on a collection of letters from the Douthwaite family archive. These give intimate glimpses of life in a missionary household, and allow us to share some of Douthwaite's hopes and doubts, joys and sorrows.
After an unhappy childhood and misspent youth, Douthwaite was converted to
Christianity and went to China as a medical missionary. After four years as a
pioneering evangelist, Douthwaite was appointed to be the first superintendent of the Chefoo mission. He was a strong advocate for using service to the native population as a means of promoting Christianity, and his skills as an administrator were invaluable in developing medical and educational services. His premature death from dysentery at the age of 51 prevented him from achieving greater things.