Thomas of Celano's First Life of St. Francis of Assisi

About this book

Leaving behind his wayward youth the visionary and mystic Francesco Bernardone (1181-1226) embraced a life of utter poverty and near the end of his life received the stigmata - the marks of Christs passion - on his body. He changed water into wine preached to the birds cured countless cripples and wrestled with devils. Or did he? How after so long can we separate history from legend? Thomas of Celano was St Francis friend and disciple. This new translation of his First Life is the earliest and most reliable account of a truly extraordinary man.