The Joyful Beggar: A Novel of St. Francis of Assisi

by Louis de Wohl

In this magnificent and stirring novel, Louis de Wohl turns his famed narrative skill to the story of the soldier and merchant's son who might have been right-hand man to a king … and who became instead the most beloved of all saints. Set against the tempestuous background of 13th Century Italy and Egypt, here is the magnificent and inspiring story of Francis Bernardone, the brash, pleasure-loving young officer who was to become immortalized as St. Francis of Assisi. The story teems with action, pageantry and intrigue with finely conceived characters-the beautiful, saintly Clare, Frederick, the hawk-faced King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor, the Sultan Al Kamil, Pope Innocent III. The scene shifts from Assisi, Rome and Sicily to the deadly sands of Egypt. This book was made into a feature film by 20th Century Fox entitled Francis of Assisi , now available on video from Ignatius Press.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Catholic, Fiction, Religion, Christian, Spirituality, Christian Fiction

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Mr. de Wohl was a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and his wife (nee Ruth Magdalene Lorch, whom he married in 1953) is a Lady Commander of the same Order. His fifty books include The Living Wood (Lippincott, 1947), Imperial Renegade (id., 1950), The Restless Flame (id., 1951), Throne of the World (id., 1949; published in England as Attila), The Golden Thread (Lippincott, 1952), The Second Conquest (id., 1954), Set All Afire (id., 1953), The Spear (id., 1955), and St. Joan, the Girl Soldier (Farrar, 1957) in the Vision Books series.

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading this was immensely satisfying and inspirational. It also confirmed my love of Louis de Wohl's writing. He's the rare author who can craft a saint's story so well that I can't wait to get back to it. He's got the golden touch.

My original review is below.

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What is it with Louis de Wohl's books? They're like peanuts or popcorn. You just keep tossing back handfuls because they're so good and go down so tastily.

I received The Joyful Beggar on a Saturday at noon in the mail. Sunday at noon I was 75% done. It really grabbed me, obviously. I should've expected that since I've had that reaction to de Wohl's books before. They are consistently entertaining, fact-based stories of saints and the times in which they lived.

I'm aware of the details of St. Francis's life but have never felt much connection with this saint. I wondered if sinking deeper into his life could help my life as a Christian. That's another of Louis de Wohl's talents, by the way. Whether or not you feel a personal affinity for someone, he brings to light aspects of their lives that illuminate your own.

Sharp as a blade, the Pope's mind put it all together. This beggar was a troubadour, a Minnesanger, as they called them in Germany, a "singer of love," but for once here was one who was singing in praise of the Love of God.

"I am the poor woman in the desert," Francis explained merrily. "And I trust my Lord, the King. he will look after my sons."

A jester and a dancer; a beggar and a troubadour; a preacher, a monk, a teller of parables, and perhaps a saint: there was no end to the man. If Satan could distort the minds of many to preach against the Church in the name of purity, here was one who could preach for the Church in the same name; here was, perhaps, the antidote against the poison in the veins of Europe, the man to give fresh life to a world grown cold. And therefore this man could be, nay, was the one who held up the falling walls of the Church. And that was all Innocent wanted to know.

What I felt after reading this book was Francis's joy in serving, his release from fear, his complete trust in God. I especially appreciated the way Francis connected Brother Sun and Sister Moon and all the other elements of his famous Canticle of the Sun with Jesus. It was that connection which made nature holy, the connection with our Lord in his Incarnation. Beautiful.

As always, de Wohl shows us the saint's story through other imagined characters who have their own journeys to God. This is very useful for explaining the history and customs of the times. Quite often there is a contrast which layers meaning and context for the overall power of that particular saint. In this book there were both Clare of Assisi on her own journey to holiness and Roger of Vandria, continually striving to simply regain his ancestral lands. As they grow so do we.

"In that case, why not make a test?" Francis suggested. "Let a great fire be lighted before your tent, and these learned priests of yours and I will enter it. Then God may show which is the true faith."

Roger gasped. If that was supposed to be a bluff, it was a very dangerous one. There were fanatics enough among Moslem priests, and at least some of them might accept the challenge.

The sultan glanced at his imams and mullahs. they looked a little vague, as if they had not understood the little dervish's words, and one of them, standing at the back, began to move with great dignity toward the exit of the tent.

"I don't think my priests are very likely to consent to this test of yours, little dervish," Al Kamil said, smiling.

He's got out of it, Roger thought, half relieved, half angry.

"Then I will enter the fire alone," Francis said quietly, "If you promise for yourself and for your people that you will worship Christ if I come out of the fire unhurt." After a little pause he added, "If I should be burned to death, it will be due only to my sins. But if God protects me, it is a clear sign of his holy will, and you must all accept Christ.

Now he has killed himself, Roger thought. This is too good a spectacle for the sultan to miss. The man is mad. He is a fanatic. He is magnificent. By all the angels and devils, he is the only crusader in the army. What a pity he is done for. Those priests will take him at his word, even if the sultan doesn't.

Did I wind up best friends with Francis of Assisi? No. But we can't be best friends with everyone. I did, however, wind up as more than a casual acquaintance with my own life enriched thanks to the story of the joyful beggar.

[Jorge Ulises · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espectacular. Esta novela combina tres elementos muy importantes: la trama y los personajes se hacen interesantes y amenos, es rigurosa desde el punto de vista histórico, y hace patente la devoción y la fe cristiana del autor. El libro ayuda enormemente a comprender la figura de San Francisco de Asís, los inicios de la Orden Franciscana y, en general, la Historia del siglo XIII en Europa. Muy recomendable.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants to learn more about this great Saint while enjoying a good story has to read this book. De Wohl creates an imagined world around the Saint with both figures from history and fiction characters that reflect the times and trials of the day.

[Carlos Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story related by Louis de Wohl... Tells the life of the saint fr the perspectives of the people who lived in his time and how they might have approached and understood him. Great dialogues and excelent way to tell a story. Just maybe he should have show less of pther characters and more of st. Francis

[Leslie Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from Louis de Wohl. This doesn't tell everything we know about St Francis of Assisi, but the author gives a history of his life sometimes from the saint's own perspective and sometimes from others. De Wohl does a good job of adding historical fiction to flesh out the story.

[Sergio Velazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que podemos decir de San Francisco que no se haya dicho antes. Fue un hombre pequeño, pero que supo escuchar a Dios. Amaba a Dios y a todo lo que creó. No hizo distinción de ningún tipo: había un fuego interior que le hacía consumirse por los demás. Tuvo pruebas que no siempre le dejaban contento; sin embargo, él sólo quería vivir imitando a su Gran Maestro: Jesús. Le dolía cuando sus hermanos no lo veían así. Su mensaje no era nuevo, pero se adueñó de él. El cristianismo y seguir a Jesús no se consigue por medio de palabras rebuscadas sino, por un testimonio de amor incondicional a los demás y a todas las criaturas.

[Fiona Altschuler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of Louis de Wohl's saint novels!

[Carolina Guridi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un muy buen libro para conocer la vida de San Francisco, el contexto histórico y de la Iglesia, los inicios de la orden y otras ordenes de la época. La puesta como novela histórica está muy bien lograda.
Para profundizar en la espiritualidad de San Francisco de Asis hay complementar con otros libros.

[Juan A. Lavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 . Gran lectura que profundiza en la vida del santo. Me gusto mucho la escritura del autor. Con ganas de seguir con otro libro de Wohl.

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically accurate, and apt to the character and spirit of its inimitable saint, this novel of Francis of Assisi is worth each read. This is my second. Even for one utterly at the edge of interest, as far as 'saints' go, it's a rollicking adventure and medieval tumult.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read. Easy, engaging. Offers an inspriational look at a great and humble man. Enjoyed how De Wohl stays true to the the spirit of the character, and how he re-creates a historically interesting backdrop as the context to showcase the character...

[Leah N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little slow but I enjoyed Francis as a young man and the young king.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not as good as I had hoped. I like De Whol's works and I love Francis of Assisi but I was disappointed when I read this book.

[Marian Bart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. I love St. Clare's cameos.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully told story of St Francis.
De Wohl writes well without being too sugary

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction about the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Wish it would have had St. Francis as more of the main character... but it was a good over view of his life.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about a saint I thought I knew. Totally worth reading

[Sebastian Fricke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already read a lot about this wonderful saint. Similar to the The Quiet Light: A Novel About Thomas Aquinas, this story combines beautifully the history of the time with the saint's life. The tension between the skeptical and egomaniac Emporer and Francis, who fully gave his life to God, is present throughout the book. I think Frederic the II has probably been depicted a little bit too one-sided, but I am not a historian so that is just a guess.
Nevertheless, I loved how the different stories of Clara, Francis, the pope, and Fredric II interweaved and even though I knew what was to come, the way it was packaged was still gripping.
One character that clicked with me was Roger, who pursued a goal, simply because his father did so, and because he was desperate, he tried to be knightly and smart just to notice being corrupted by the corruption that he embraced as the smarter choice and in the end he finally finds something worth dying for, something pure and good.
The very last pages were heartfelt for me, I could really imagine and feel the impact of this little man on the people, this act of giving your life to love, of being fearless in the face of evil, to having a clear-cut purpose in life that is bigger than yourself and a hope that is greater than life is something (so I believe) we all desperately desire.

[Elena Mapelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

La storia di San Francesco raccontata senza tralasciare il contesto politico e sociale del tempo, condivisa da personaggi storici come Federico Barbarossa, Santa Chiara, il sultano Al Kamil e il Papa Innocenzo III. Permette di riscoprire un santo la cui vita tende ad essere spesso liofilizzata e ristretta fino ad arrivare a considerare soltanto i miracoli che la rendono in parte incredibile. Inizialmente la narrazione può sembrare noiosa, ma in realtà è perfettamente immersa nella quotidianità e nelle usanze del tempo, anche a livello storico. Non è sicuro che Ruggero di Vandria, colui con cui si apre il libro, sia esistito realmente, ma sicuramente non è un personaggio scritto male o mal adattato al contesto storico. Se letto con attenzione, offre degli ottimi spunti di riflessione da non lasciarsi sfuggire. Iper consigliato

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second de Wohl book I have read, and I loved this one, too. He did such an excellent job of bringing the story of St. Francis, (and those turbulent times he lived in), to life. Assisi in the 1200s, and Francis with the command from God, to "build My Church", to the Crusades, to Frederick, (who was awful), to beautiful Claire, who forsakes all to follow her path to God through Francis, it is all here in these pages. It reads like an adventure, a spiritual one, yes, but this was an incredible story. The author certainly did his research, and wonderfully weaves all the information into a moving story. I have read many books on St. Francis, and watched a few movies, but this book touched my heart.

[Andrea Ventura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un'accuratissima vita di San Francesco immersa nel contesto storico, da terziario secolare ho molto apprezzato. Era un uomo fuori dal mondo eppure dentro il mondo.

Ecco che nessuno sembra mai farci caso, ma i suoi contemporanei sono persone altrettanto grandi: Federico II, santa Chiara, il sultano, i due papi che si sono succeduti... in questo libro hanno ciascuno una psicologia mai banale.

E sullo sfondo Ruggero di Vandria, narratore quasi suo malgrado.

Cinque stelle che ho voluto dare per il valore dei personaggi e per l'accuratezza delle fonti.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Living Wood, another de Wohl book that I read this year, had been a bit of a slog, so I read The Joyful Beggar with some trepidation. What I encountered was a remarkably powerful and well-told story of a saint who simply yearns for simplicity and his Lord. I daresay that should be an inspiration to any of us in these times.

[Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is more a novel of the context of St Francis than the life of him.
It is ok if you would like to know a little more about what was happening historically, but also you will not be sure if it is fiction or reality.

[Camilo Cañaveral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro para arder de amor por Dios, ya que san Francisco es un santo que siempre nos muestra como debemos de amar al cricificado.
Este libro dejá tu corazón ardiendo de amor.

Dios te bendiga.

[Cameron Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny, interesting and inspiring

I enjoyed reading this book. Not my favourite from de Wohl but good. There were slow parts but picked up in the end. And even in the slow parts I never gave up on it and was always interested.

[Lalli Ruga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Troppo storico

[Stephanie]

Found a paperback copy for $1 and, even though I have it on my Kindle, couldn't resist adding it to my growing collection of books by Louis de Wohl.

[Mollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My "J" book. Not my favorite by De Wohl, but still a great read.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome saint

Awesome book. A great saint to emulate. An easy read but loaded with a lot of spiritual matter to think on.

[Marco Spataro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bel romanzo!