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Reluctant Saint

Reluctant Saint

The Life of Francis of Assisi

About the Book

Acclaimed biographer Donald Spoto strips away the legends from the life of Francis of Assisi to reveal the true story of a man who has too often been obscured by pious iconography. Drawing on unprecedented access to unexplored archives, plus Francis's own letters, Spoto places Francis within the context of the multifaceted ecclesiastical, political, and social forces of medieval Italy, casting new light on Francis and showing how his emphasis on charity as the heart of the Gospel's message helped him pioneer a new social movement. This nuanced portrait reveals the multifaceted character of a man who can genuinely be said to have changed the course of history.
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Praise for Reluctant Saint

"An engaging and revealing portrait of a remarkable man." (The Hartford Courant)

"As with The Hidden Jesus, [Spoto again] produces a serious, thought-provoking book." (Booklist)
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Compass Series

If the Buddha Got Stuck
It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys
Reluctant Saint
Journey to the Well
The Jewish Book of Why
Thirty Days
The Lakota Way
The Secrets of Jesuit Soupmaking
The Woman Who Laughed at God
The Path to Tranquility
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About the Author

Donald Spoto
Donald Spoto is the author of 25 books, including bestselling biographies of Alfred Hitchcock, Tennessee Williams, Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman, and Audrey Hepburn. He earned his PhD degree from Fordham University. Spoto is married to the Danish school administrator Ole Flemming Larsen; they live in a quiet village, an hour's drive from Copenhagen. More by Donald Spoto
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