Saint Francis of Assisi

by G.K.Chesterton

Written soon after he became a Catholic, G.K.Chesterton's personal reflections on the life of St Francis remain an important contribution to Franciscan studies, despite the scholarship of the last eighty years. He is 'here addressing the ordinary modern man, sympathetic but skeptical...' (p. 3). His starting point is Francis' unconditional and absolute love of Christ, one that many, indeed favourable, commentators could not fully comprehend, since '...they will not believe that a heavenly love can be as real as an earthly love.' (p. 88). A publisher's note at the end of the book informs us that 'This edition...is gently edited and updated from the original [USA 1924] edition'. The reader will have already spotted one American spelling! Chesterton's prose style, long sentences and lengthy paragraphs do not get in the way of the book's content, though there are many allusions with which the contemporary reader may be unfamiliar. There is a brief, anonymous ‘Preface’, which is a sketchy biography of Chesterton. The opportunity could have been taken to include a Franciscan bibliography, or just an outline of principal dates and events in Francis' life.
This is a book which deserves its reputation, and gives us many insights into the character and ideas of Chesterton himself. Highly recommended!



Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham   (17/12/08)

Hardback
Price: £8.99
Publisher:Hendrickson distributed by Alban Books
Published:October 2008
ISBN:978-1-598-56282-8