Description
Book SynopsisHow did a thirteenth-century Italian friar become one of the best-loved saints in America? Drawing on a dazzling array of art, music, drama, film, hymns, and prayers, Patricia Appelbaum explains what happened to make St. Francis so familiar and meaningful to so many Americans.
Trade Review“Representative of the best of modern historical scholarship. . . . The volume will undoubtedly be of interest to scholars, educated laity, atheist, agnostic, and religionist alike.”-
American Historical Review“Appelbaum’s narrative is vigorous, and her analysis of the ways in which Francis has been read and contested is convincing.”-
Church History and Religious Culture“Achieves success as both a work of careful scholarship and a delightful read.”-
Choice“Makes an important contribution to American history of religion and to the field of Franciscan studies. . . . A must-read for historians of American religion and the Franciscan tradition alike.”-
American Catholic Studies“A cultural history of how the medieval monk has been represented in U.S. culture over the past two hundred years.”-
Journal of American History“An entertaining read [that] helps us separate the real figure from folklore- Francis the popular icon from Francis the man.”-
Episcopal Journal“This well-researched biography is recommended as a case study of how the perceptions of historical individuals change over the course of time to fit and speak to contemporary issues.”-
Library Journal
