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St. Francis of Assisi

By: G. K. Chesterton
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's summary

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.

What listeners say about St. Francis of Assisi

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outstanding

The most important book I've read this year. Inspiring, challenging. I have a more well rounded understanding of St. Francis.

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1 person found this helpful

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A Poem of Praise

Classic Chesterton! If you enjoy his prose and his imagery and his love of all that is good then this is your jam.

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Overall Good

An inspirational look at the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Well written, narration was a bit off in parts.

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Genius

The genius of GK Chesterton shines in this wonderfully human but intellectual biography of St Francis.

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Beautifully and Brilliantly Written

GK Chesterton weaves insight and reason into a brief but deep account of the life, including contextual inferences, of St. Francis of Assisi.

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Beautiful blending of a great book and an exceptional reader!

Do not hesitate—buy this book. Not only is Chesterton’s book worthy of our attention, but also Mr. Vance is the perfect narrator for this book. A beautiful spiritual and literary resource.

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lovely book

I have listened to this one many times. it is one of my favorites! chesterton is my fav

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Excellent short book on the wife of Saint Francis

This is a fun and great little book by Chesterton on the life of Saint Francis. The narration is excellent, and overall it is a good, though short, listen.

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Overall, a bit wordy

But she has an interesting perspective on Saint Francis’s life and context. Considered one of the seminal biographies.

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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!

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