Saints Illustrated

by Dominic Connolly

In Catholicism, sainthood is the highest state of holiness for any soul in Heaven. There are more than 10,000 saints that have been canonized by the Catholic Church -- some were exemplary models, others extraordinary teachers, while some worked miracles or changed the lives of millions through their guidance and good works.

Arranged in chronological order, this book covers all the major saints, from St. Paul the Apostle, the apostle who did most to spread Christianity following the death of Christ, and established Christian communities in Asia Minor - to Pope John Paul II, famous for being a peacemaker and providing spiritual inspiration during the fall of communism. In between, this compact volume covers well-known historical figures such as Joan of Arc, who defended the honour of France in the Medieval era, the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, and lesser-known saints such as Zita, the 13th century patron saint of maids and domestic servants. Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding and with 150 illustrations and artworks of saints from every part of the world, this book will fascinate anyone interested in inspiring- and often very human- religious figures from Biblical times to the present.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 2023

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars) I’m not catholic but I have enjoyed learning about saints as I’ve visited cathedrals and traveled in different countries. This book covers over 150 saints. The first ones are the major ones you expect such as the apostles and family of Christ. The sections are loosely based on 500 year timelines. Early martyrs who take up for Christianity fill the next section. Then as the Catholic church spread, the next section had many of the people who founded monasteries and convents, along with other leaders. The sections continue to modern days with the first saints from the Americas, Mother Teresa and ending with St. John Paul II.

Each saint is shown in art or photo and their reason for sainthood. It may also include details of how they died or what they are the patron saint over. The blurbs are very brief. Of course this book is a bit Eurocentric but there are few non European saints included. I enjoyed the art photos and thought it was somewhat informative. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of all saints. It didn’t include controversial saints like Columbus but did have Junipero Serra and mentions his abusive treatment of Native Americans in what became California. This would be a nice coffee table book for believers in saints or a nice check out from a library for someone who is interested in learning why different saints are revered. Thank you to Amber Books Ltd for the temporary digital book and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Courtney R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Saints Illustrated" by Dominic Connolly is a breathtaking homage to the lives and legacies of some of the most revered figures in Christian history. This beautifully crafted book combines stunning illustrations with concise yet informative narratives to provide readers with a unique and engaging exploration of the lives of saints. The layout and design of the book are also commendable. The clean and organized format allows the artwork to take center stage, while the accompanying text complements rather than overwhelms the illustrations.

The accompanying text is well-written and provides just enough information to give readers a glimpse into the lives and virtues of the featured saints. Connolly's writing strikes a perfect balance between being informative and accessible, making it suitable for readers of various ages and levels of familiarity with Christian history.

One of the book's strengths is its diversity in saint selection, showcasing figures from different time periods, cultures, and walks of life. This inclusivity helps readers connect with a wide range of saintly examples, making "Saints Illustrated" a book that transcends denominational boundaries.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully presented book about most of the major saints, such as St Thomas Aquinas and Joan of Arc and several minor saints. It had stunning paintings or icons for each saint, together with short, potted biographies. These were interesting, but this is really a coffee-table book, or a reference book. It does make readers want to know more about the saints that they admire.

It annoyed me that our only Australian saint, the wonderful St Mary Mackillop, was left out!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Tristann Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Saints Illustrated" provides a short illustrated biography of particular saints in chronological order of their lives. The book can be used as an nice introduction for people who want to know a brief overview of a saint and some of the reasons why particular saints are venerated. It is unclear the basis for information provided, whether from church traditions or private accounts so readers should approach the information as a means of introduction and not all inclusive. I can see using the book as a starting point to learn more about specific saints and how they are celebrated in the church.

[Lydia Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful volume, with deckled edges and gold lettering. A joy to grace my little library collection. Exquisitely furnished with rich historical artistic renditions. Brief and succinct in its information, a perfect bedside companion. Fed my philosophical, theological, and aesthetic curiousity concurrently. A dazzling addition to my sacred little kotatsi/coffee table/altar space. Best savoured while watching the sunrise on a slow weekend morning, with nothing to do and nowhere to be.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Amber Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am not catholic, but I have great interest in most religions, and Saints have always fascinated me. The profiles of these Saints are brief, and I love that so many of those included were not those that "everyone" hears about.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with lovely illustrations for each Saint depicted. This would be a great title for households and church libraries.

The Saints are presented in order of when they lived. The descriptions are not very long, so perfect for children or adults to get a concise description of these holy men and women.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you aren't Catholic this could be an informative book if you want to know more about the iconography of the saints.
Each of them is represented in a symbolic way and this book explains the inconography and the life
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and inspiring. I think there were errors, and I'm not a fan of the traditional Chinese binding, but this is a great coffee table book for Catholic homes.

[Jennifer Irons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read with wonderful illustrations of each saint!! Some saints I had heard of, but there were many saints that I never knew about!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely compilation of the lives of saints. This book is a comprehensive guide to the saints with lovely illustrations and short descriptions of each saint in chronological order.