The Life of St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury

by Eadmer, R.W. Southern (Editor)

English, Latin

Genres: Biography, Christian

390 pages, Hardcover

First published May 11, 1972

Reviews

[Justine Olawsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most delightful biography I have read in a long time—and certainly the best biography of a relatively early saint—because it is written with such warm affection, one friend writing of another, with all good humor, reverence, and unfailing love. Eadmer knew Anselm, worked with him, went into exile and returned to Canterbury with him, was witness to miracles and conversations and the authorship of works that would eventually lead Anselm to be declared a Doctor of the Church. He writes, therefore, not only of the towering man of God, the devoted servant of Christ, the theological giant, but of the man who liked to watch people enjoy their food—who was so oppressed by the endless politics and other distasteful archbishopy things he was forced to do once elevated to that ecclesiastic office that his friends would have to draw him away to discuss Holy Scripture to cheer him up—who often got into trouble for being too lenient on his charges—who grieved until the day he died the time he was persuaded to forego conferring the sacrament of confirmation on a young girl because his traveling companions were in haste. My esteem for this saint, who was already a personal favorite due to his rich and wise theological treatises, grew while reading, and his happy-go-lucky chronicler pal Eadmer is now also quite a pet.

Eadmer tells us at the end of his biography that he had shown Anselm the first book and asked him to correct anything about his mentor's life that was awry. Anselm corrected a few points of the text and then, upon reflection, ordered Eadmer to destroy the manuscript "for he considered himself far too unworthy for future ages to place the least value on a literary monument to his honor." This his faithful companion and fellow laborer dutifully did—but not until he had first made a copy! And so, by obeying the letter but certainly not the spirit of his spiritual father's command, Eadmer has given us an enduring treat, allowing us across the span of 1000 years to travel with Anselm, tasting of his cheerfulness, his goodness, his faithfulness, and his wisdom.

[Brittany Petruzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a right race, but Anselm may be the most box of the English medieval saints. You really get the feeling that all he wanted to do was go off to write his theological treatises, but gelt called to fulfill his duty to the people as a bishop. So thank ful for this man of God!

[Eric Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy to read biography of a great mind. It was cool to see the Latin on the left side and English on the right. Helpful for those studying Latin. Anselm had an interesting life.