A wonderful, insightful biography that shows Francis in his glory and in his pain. ( )

Of the making of books on St Francis there appears to be no end, so only the brave rate new biographies in comparison with earlier tellings. There are two newer elements in this life of St Francis that make it stand out: firstly, Donald Spoto is able to make a good story out of all the socio-economic chaos of later 12th and early 13th Century Europe. This 'Reluctant Saint' has more depth because we see more clearly his world. Secondly, like Julien Green's in "God's Fool", Spoto burrows down to the psychology of St Francis, and particularly in the 'middle years' between the visit to Rome of 1209 and the First Rule dragged out of him in 1221.

The title paints St Francis as 'reluctant' because (a) he always thought of himself as a sinner, a penitent, and (b) because his fame (in his lifetime and since) is bound up with the Order that he didn't want and couldn't stop.

If you are looking for a biography of the saint from Assisi either as a first-time reader, or to refresh your understanding of who Francis was, then read "Reluctant Saint". ( )

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