2. Comparison to other Biographies

[John]

2. Compare Chesterton's biography with other biographies of St. Francis that you may have read. Which is your favorite and why? If you have not read other biographies of St. Francis, does Chesterton inspire you to do so? (That is what an introduction is supposed to do.) Finally, how would you compare this with other hagiographies that we have read?

[Mariangel]

I had previously read the Little Flowers of St. Francis, and a couple of comic/children versions of his life.

The Flowers are a chronological collection of short episodes about his life, written in the style of folk stories. Chesterton does not tell us Francis story from beginning to end. He instead collects a few significant episodes, and goes in depth into their meaning and the light they shed St. Francis's character, while explaining to us the wider world context in which they happened (and which is, of course, implicit in the Flowers, were the context was clear to contemporary readers).

I find Chesterton's way very illuminating. His wonderful way with words makes it an immensely enjoyable read.

A main difference with other hagiographies we have read is that the intended audience of the other books was Catholic. Chesterton, instead, addresses a sympathetic but sceptic reader, familiar with Christianity only from the outside, and whose only idea of the Middle Ages is that they were dark.

[John]

I have not read other biographies of St. Francis, but am now interested in doing so. Can anyone recommend a more traditional biography?

[Tania]

Yes, I believe it was necessary to know a little about the life of Saint Francis first. We are reading a profound analysis from Chesterton.

[Mariangel]

I found a goodreads list about St. Francis biographies:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I see on the list one by Louis de Wohl (#16) that is available for free at Formed.

I also think that "The little flowers" are worth reading, as they are very unique and the most contemporary to St. Francis, but maybe you should start with a traditional biography first.

If you have children you'd like to teach about St. Francis,
this is a beautifully drawn and quite complete biography.

[Madeleine]

Thanks, Mariangel. I have Formed, and have taken advantage of their book offerings! Will get the de Wohl.

[Tania]

Mariangel wrote: "I found a goodreads list about St. Francis biographies:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I see on the list one by Louis de Wohl (#16) that is available for free ..."Thank u

[Fonch]

Madeleine wrote: "Thanks, Mariangel. I have Formed, and have taken advantage of their book offerings! Will get the de Wohl."

The joyful beggar is amaizing, although i liked much more The Quiet light. More than a traditional biography the G.K. Chesterton`s biography are essays, even impressions of the figures, whom he wrote.

[John]

Fonch wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "Thanks, Mariangel. I have Formed, and have taken advantage of their book offerings! Will get the de Wohl."

The joyful beggar is amaizing, although i liked much more The Quiet lig..."

I think "Impressions" captures Chesterton's biographies (at least those of Sts. Francis and Thomas.

[Fonch]

It is not a biography It is an Interesting perspective of the figure of Saint Francis Assisi and Saint Thomas Aquinas. The biography of Saint Thomas Aquinas was praised by an expert Neothomist Ettiene Gilson.