Beggars, Beasts & Easter Fire/Stories of Early Saints

by Carol Greene, Kimberly Bulcken Root (Illustrator)

A collection of twenty stories--encompassing fourteen countries and spanning the years 300 to 1600--introduces young readers to the lives and legends of famous saints.

127 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Has degrees in English Literature and musicology. She has worked in international exchange programs, as an editor, and as a teacher of writing. Lives in Webster Groves, Missouri.

Reviews

[Christina Baehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and visually appealing introduction to major saints such as Brigid, Patrick, and Boniface, with a slightly fanciful slant.

[Siobhain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on the stories of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Angela Merici.

Beggars, Beasts and Easter Fire relate the stories of 20 saints which range in time from St. Nicholas in the 4th century to to St. Martin de Porres in the late 1500s. My guess is that one thing that ties these saints together is that their lives are historical, yet legends have developed about the them which the author has incorporates into the stories. What makes these stories worthy is that they are told in such a way as to help the reader get a real idea of what it would have been like to be that person, living in their time and place. This is a really excellent quality. I haven't seen it in any other saint book I have reviewed, and it makes the book a great addition to any library.

Related to legends, the author Carol Green has this to say in the introductory chapter "The Story of the Saints."

"as stories of the saints were told again and again, legends often developed. These legends may say more about people's feelings toward the saints than about events that really happened. In their own way, though, legends can help us understand the truths about the saints and about the people whose lives were touched by these heroes."

In addition to the saints listed above, the saints included in this book are: Augustine of Hippo, Patrick, Columba, Cuthbert, Boniface, Margaret of Scotland, Hildegard of Bingen, Hedwig of Poland, Francis of Assisi, Claire of Assisi, Bridget of Sweden, Sergius of Radonezh, Catherine of Siena, Joan of Arc, John of God, and Teresa of Avila.

[Rachel Snowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about some saints I was less familiar with. The writing was mediocre, but it was a good resource for simplified accounts to encounter the saints.