The Passionate Troubadour: A Medieval Novel about Francis of Assisi
This fervent fictional biography of St. Francis of Assisi paints a full-bodied portrait of a man struggling to resolve the essentially paralyzing conflict between his ascetic spirituality and his vital humanity. Although the story of Francis, the privileged son of a wealthy merchant who renounced all his worldly possessions in favor of a life of poverty, is a familiar one, Hays takes it to a new and invigorating level, introducing a compelling cast of supporting characters who influence Francis along his often torturous and conflicted path to holiness. No plaster saint, Francis emerges as a more earthy and robust version of the retiring hermit of religious folklore and legend. Splendid historical fiction replete with authentic medieval detailing.Margaret FlanaganCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved