The Francis Book: 800 Years With the Saint From Assisi

Rembrandt painted him, Zeffireli filmed him, Chesterton eulogized him, Lenin died with his name on his lips, Toynbee compared him to Jesus and Buddha, Kerouac picked him as patron of the Beat generation, Sir Kenneth Clark called him Europe's greatest religious genius. Here is a book that takes Francis of Assisi out of the birdbath and places him where he really is: at the heart of human and divine experience for Christian and non-Christian people all over the world. Here are the thoughts and visions of some of the greatest writers and artists of the past eight centuries, as they confront the enduring mysteries of a wealthy small-town merchant's son who became a "mirror of Christ". - His city (Assisi) - His life and times - His values - His best friend (St. Clare) - His universe - His passion - His song (The Canticle of the Sun) - His end - His continuing influence - His universal appeal. This book's multi-media format - fiction, essays, poetry, journalism, songs, paintings, drawings, photographs, and more - is "modern," just as St. Francis has been "modern for every age since he burst on the world 800 years ago. It's designed to entertain as well as inspire, to be flipped through as well as carefully read, to charm as well as challenge. Reading it is like a chance encounter with a barefoot preacher long ago on the streets of Assisi. Many have had the experience, but the meaning of it is for you alone to decide.