Treasury of Saints and Martyrs
Grade 4-7-This meaty compendium provides short essays on the definition of a "saint," on the making of saints, and on four key periods in the history of Christianity. Brief biographical sketches introduce 50 saints, relate their engaging stories and give passing attention to their virtues and iconography. Males outnumber females by nearly four to one, though a few women walk on as mothers of male saints. The most egregious omission is any reference to Mother Teresa in the "Modern Saints" essay. The copious, full-color and black-and-white fine-art reproductions are well chosen and effectively laid out. There is no index to the art, however, and only sporadic identification of artists or dates. Nor have the saints been selected with art history in mind: popular artists' subjects (like Sebastian, Ursula, Jerome, Mary Magdalen) are missing, and iconographic symbols are not necessarily shown or mentioned (Paul's sword). There is a glossary (omitting friar, priory, lay brother, cloister) and a calendar of saints' days. The elegant beauty of the images is both homage and lure to our admiration of these inspiring models. Those interested in religion, ethics, art, literature, or social history will appreciate this treasury.Patricia Lothrop-Green, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.