Francis of Assisi ─ A New Biography

Thompson (history, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley) seeks to strip away the legendary anecdotes about Francis (1182-1226) and present a picture of the man himself. Academic and popular accounts almost all draw on the same set of stories, and even when they admit that the tales are probably not true, do not try to see past them. He privileges Francis' own writing over that of others, and sources from his own time over those from later generations, and accounts that do not portray him taking sides in ideological disputes that arose within the order after his death. The stages of his career are the penitent from Assisi, the primitive fraternity, expansion and consolidation, Francis returns home, rules and retirement, the way of the cross, and from penitent to saint. He includes a bibliographic essay for each chapter. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)