Francis of Assisi: The Life

A good short biography of St. Francis. It was slightly disappointing because the review that sold it to me emphasized that it was by a historian and based on the few remaining documents of the time and contemporary writings. It was sold as solidly factual. It does debunk some legends, but it contains many suppositions---must-have-been's and we-can-assumes and surelys and such. Still, the narrative flows well and itr's not overlong. I'd recommend it, just not as enthusiastically as the reviewer for my archdiocesan newspaper. (BTW, I read the Kindle edition, without footnotes. I think there is a hard cover book with the sourcing spelled out. That might be more impressive.)

Because I have recently returned from a visit to Assisi I decided to give this book a try and see how it rated next to others I have read of The Little Poor Man. I have been most pleasantly surprised with the presentation of this book. I appreciate the author's attempt to "stick to the facts" and have readers look at Francis as a man of his times who turned out to be quite extraordinary. The material on the actual founding of the Order which Francis did not want as an Order was engaging, surprising and inspiring. I feel as though I know Francis much more as one who sought God in the turbulance of daily life and who truly deserves the honor, respect and love which have been offered to his memory throughout the ages. Many in the world are grateful to St. Francis for his example of prayer, self-sacrifice, love of the poor and sick, and of God. May the present day Catholic Pope Francis continue in this path.

Augustine Thompson has succeeded in stripping away the myths to give a real and very human Francis of Assisi. In the original, fuller version of the work Thompson treated the sources for Francis' life with meticulous scholarship so that those of historical bent could see how he arrived at his conclusions about Francis' life and work. The resulting biography of the Umbrian saint is presented here without the scholarly apparatus, in a version accessible to general readers. What he gives us is a man who probably suffered from PTSD after his early experiences with war, who never planned to found a religious order and could not manage the one that coalesced around him but who nonetheless reshaped an age by the power of his personality and his calls for penitence, absolute dependence on God, and reverence for the Eucharist. Readers may have to abandon some beloved Francis stories (the wolf of Gubbio, for instance) but the real person who emerges from Thompson's work is just as attractive and even more compelling than the saint pictured on the holy cards.

If you’ve ever quoted Francis out of context (and I know you have) you need to read this book. Period.

This book was amazing and I recommend anyone seeking a more descriptive view of the life of St. Francis to read this phenomenal book.

A good biography of Saint Francis. Fr. Thompson tries to seperate the myths from the real Saint Francis.

More of Francis as a man rather than a saint come out in this book

PHENOMENAL account of Francis of Assisi. Its a very historical account so you see the true man behind the mythical mask. Must read!