St. Francis of Assisi

Describing Francis' death, Chesterton writes: "...there was a sudden stillness...for the stopping of the great heart that had not broken till it held the world." In a mere 150 pages, Chesterton captures a phenomenal character, making many interesting asides along the way. He (Chesterton) is without any equivocation an apologist for the Catholic Church, but he does it with the sort of grace that makes one think twice. I am happily Unitarian Universalist, but if I ever became a Catholic it would be because Chesterton led me there. (Though I recommend that the present Pope not hold his breath :-)

Not nearly as much a book about Francis as a book about Chesterton. You can learn a little about Francis here but this is mainly Mr. Chesterton's ode to himself and his opinions. His effort to explain away the Inquisition is particularly bizarre. He does have some great lines and insights though, in particular his description of mysticism.

This was much more a commentary on the life of Saint Francis than an actual biography. There are very little facts or stories related, and much more an in-depth look at who exactly St Francis was at the core, and his place historically in the church and the world around him. Now isn't that what a biography is supposed to be about?

One has to actually know a little history about Saint Francis to really appreciate this book. Chesterton writes as if you know the stories before he even talks about them. I would advise to at least read the Wikipedia entry on St Francis, in order to really understand where Chesterton is coming from. Still a very good book.

An attempt to explain St Francis to non-Christians, or even non-Catholics. A decent effort, with many good ideas, sometimes going beyond the topic itself (e.g. the author's astonishment at modern historians treating writers of old chronicles as superstitious, and thus unreliable, when mentioning anything supernatural, yet as completely reliable with regard to all the rest of what they wrote), but as is usual with GKC, there is a lot of exaggeration, wishful thinking, and even idealisation, related to the Middle Ages, and to the Catholic Church.

Did I like this listen? Yes. I will fully admit that it was more because I could spend 4 hours listening to Simon Vance ... :D one of my favorite narrators ... than because I learned a ton about St. Francis (I didn't).

I did appreciate Chesterton's efforts to set Francis in his historical context, and provide details about European, at least, history to that point. That was insightful and helpful. There was a fair bit of philosophy included that went over my head at times (but again, didn't help getting sidetracked by a swoonworthy narrator--focus, Meagan!).

But, it was still a good book to partake of as I also walk the St. Francis Way for a virtual Conqueror Challenge, and that was really my end goal. Check!

There were parts that irritated me because Chesterton seemed to be relishing dancing round a mulberry bush and never quite coming to the point. However, on the whole I enjoyed this miniature portrait of the great saint's life and philosophy. It certainly is not exhaustive, but entices one to want read more about him.

There were parts that irritated me because Chesterton seemed to be relishing dancing round a mulberry bush and never quite coming to the point. However, on the whole I enjoyed this miniature portrait of the great saint's life and philosophy. It certainly is not exhaustive, but entices one to want read more about him.