St. Francis of Assisi

By: G. K. Chesterton

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential men in the whole of human history. This acclaimed biography of Saint Francis examines the life of a pure artist, a man "whose whole life was a poem". Here is the Saint Francis who prayed and danced with pagan abandon, who talked to animals, and who invented the crèche. Yet Francis also acknowledged the mystic responsibility to communicate his divine experience. Chesterton examines the existence of the pure eccentric and the devout mystic in one man, offering an understanding of Saint Francis in both body and soul. It has been said that G. K. Chesterton converted to Catholicism in 1922 because "only the Roman Church could have produced a Saint Francis of Assisi".

This biography, published shortly after Chesterton's conversion, is universally considered the best appreciation of Francis' life, one that gets to the heart of the matter.

©1923 Gilbert Keith Chesterton. © renewed 1951 by Oliver Chesterton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

well read, and a different view of St. Francis

leave it to Chesterton to find a great new take on this saint! greater reader too!

Quick introduction to St. Francis

I like Chesterton, and much of this was good introduction to St. Francis; however, it is a little heavy on explaining his method for approaching the writing, rather than the writing itself.

Not enough about Francis!

The book was interesting and well narrated, however, Chesterton seems to assume that I already know quite a bit about Francis. I got the book to learn about Francis but the bulk of the book is Chesterton setting up a defence of his views on Francis as well as a critique of other contemporary writers on the subject of Francis and the church and miracles. More Francis please!

Sublime story written by a sublime mind

Chesterton never stops surprising us.
Short book but full of enigmas and sentences that are far from my ordinary mind to conceive understanding. Still the little I’ve got made it unforgettable.

An introductory, well thought, biographical sketch

The author describes this as a primer on St Francis. I call it an introductory, well thought, biographical sketch. The man who initiated a new order that is still alive today, was a poet and naturalist. I could picture him preaching to animals and humans alike. The audio of this text was helpful, but I believe a sit down read in the outdoors would be the best for enjoying this text.

St Francis of Assisi

This book surprised me. It was not what I expected. The format is similar to defending your theists hitting upon events that occurred to the society around St Francis. It provided me a mindset as to how saints should be studied but not the meat I desired.

Informative

I like Chesterton, his introductions are quite eliminating. So too has he achieved his purpose by wetting my appetite for more information. This is a small informative book on the man we call Francois of Assisi!

st. francis

I knew part of the story of St. Francis but GK Chestertons take brought up a lot of food for thought!

Short Powerful Biography of St Francis

G. K. Chesterton partly credited St. Francis for his conversion to Catholicism, published this biography of St. Francis of Assisi's life shortly after that conversion, and it is still considered one of the best discussions of the saint.

Chesterton is a great writer, and his use of the English language still holds up to today, in that his style is both impressive and easily digestible. I am quite drawn to St. Francis of Assisi because his perspective on how we should love and respect all life as being precious and made from God, not just us humans, directly aligns with my own perspective. However, I really appreciated that Chesterton doesn't just bracket this book with St. Francis' birth and death, but rather places the saint's life into context of the wider sociopolitical and theological discussions going on both before and after his life. It especially helped to hear how St. Francis followers, both Franciscan monks and laypersons, continued practicing in the spirit of his demonstration while still being in the fold of Catholicism, though there were some heresies that sprung out of Franciscan practice that didn't go very far.

This is a great short biography of a saint close to my heart, and a lovely read for those interested in learning more about Roman Catholicism, St. Francis of Assisi, and lives of the saints. A perfect read for the Easter season!

An ancient time with a timely message!

In a self obsessed materialistic world this history, written in the endlessly written style perfected be the genius of G. K. Chesterton is a feast for serious Christians and bibliophiles anywhere.