Saint Francis : a novel

The Francis of Assisi in these pages is a man of struggle and suffering, a man God-possessed.”—Saturday Review“The writing . . . is direct and vigorous.”—Commonweal“The novel is strong, deep, and moving. . . . a penetration into the mystery and wonder of life.”—San Francisco ChronicleThe protean Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis retells the story of the most beloved of saints—Francis of Assisi, who permanently changed the way people think about following God. Drawing on the traditional stories of the saint’s life, Kazantzakis infuses the tale with a fervent vision that is uniquely his own, highlighting the saint’s heroicsingle-mindedness in the face of extreme physical and spiritual suffering. He portrays the saint as a great lover and inspiring leader who embraced radical poverty in the face of many obstacles and temptations while achieving a way of life marked by epic generosity. If I have omitted many of Francis's sayings and deeds and if I have altered others, and added still others that did not take place but that might have taken place, I have done so not out of ignorance or impudence or irreverence, but from a need to match the saint's life with his myth, bringing that life as fully into accord with its essence as possible. Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957) was born in and lived in Greece most of his life. He was the author of poetry, plays, articles and novels, including The Last Temptation of Christ, Zorba the Greek and The Greek Passion.