What do you think?
Rate this book
Saints: A New Legendary of Heroes, Humans, and Magic
From thebestselling author of Storyland and Wild comes a sweeping new legendary of miracles, magic, human frailty, and heroic strength. Illustrated by the author with over thirty original papercut portraits.
In Saints, historian and artist Amy Jeffs illuminates the lives of medieval saints, drawing on official biographies, vernacular romances, artworks, and poetry to tell of wayfaring monks, oak-felling missionaries, and mighty martyrs.
Organized by feast month, this enchanting compendium presents the legends of Brigid, Patrick, Nicholas, and Augustine as well as saints whose stories are less well-known (Ia, Mungo, Scoithín, and Euphrosyne). Combining history and myth, tradition and invention, Jeffs offers transporting tales of demons and dragons, men raised by wolves, and women who commune with birds.
In Saints, historian and artist Amy Jeffs illuminates the lives of medieval saints, drawing on official biographies, vernacular romances, artworks, and poetry to tell of wayfaring monks, oak-felling missionaries, and mighty martyrs.
Organized by feast month, this enchanting compendium presents the legends of Brigid, Patrick, Nicholas, and Augustine as well as saints whose stories are less well-known (Ia, Mungo, Scoithín, and Euphrosyne). Combining history and myth, tradition and invention, Jeffs offers transporting tales of demons and dragons, men raised by wolves, and women who commune with birds.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2024
81 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Amy Jeffs
6 books133 followersAmy Jeffs is an art historian specialising in the Middle Ages. In 2019, she gained a PhD in Art History from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, having studied for earlier degrees at the Courtauld Institute of Art and the University of Cambridge. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.
During her PhD Amy co-convened a project researching medieval badges and pilgrim souvenirs at the British Museum. She then worked in the British Library's department of Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern manuscripts.
Her writing is often accompanied by her own linocut and wood-engraved prints.
Amy is a regular contributor to Country Life Magazine.
During her PhD Amy co-convened a project researching medieval badges and pilgrim souvenirs at the British Museum. She then worked in the British Library's department of Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern manuscripts.
Her writing is often accompanied by her own linocut and wood-engraved prints.
Amy is a regular contributor to Country Life Magazine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 17, 2025
3.5 stars
Well written and structured, I enjoyed going through the months of the year and learning about some of the Saints from that month. The mix of retellings and the historical sources they were pulled from was interesting. The art dotted throughout was so clever and different! They added to the feel of the book and showed the author's inspiration.
Well written and structured, I enjoyed going through the months of the year and learning about some of the Saints from that month. The mix of retellings and the historical sources they were pulled from was interesting. The art dotted throughout was so clever and different! They added to the feel of the book and showed the author's inspiration.
October 27, 2024
I had a grand time taking notes on this, just for my personal enjoyment of the text. Part of my reaason for this was just research, but I'm also enamored with Jeffs' storytelling. Her little fiction snippets are so wonderfully vivid! I loved them.
November 10, 2025
This is a really great book that touches a lot of things: the lives of Saints, the stories and legends of those Saints, the historical context on which a few of them lived, the historical context in which their medieval followers lived, and how all that affects the way we perceive them today. It is accessible and enjoyable.
It follows the yearly feast calendar and centers on the British Isles, so I'm partial to the Irish medieval saints, but it's all really worth it.
It follows the yearly feast calendar and centers on the British Isles, so I'm partial to the Irish medieval saints, but it's all really worth it.
October 21, 2025
beautifully written but, for me, not as engaging as her previous books
October 31, 2024
I loved this. I had already read Jeffs' book, Wild and really enjoyed it but I thought this was way better. The stories are fascinating and the historical background and discussion of artefacts that Jeffs uses to accompany each story is a great way into thinking about the medieval world in which these stories are rooted. The paper cuts that accompany the stories are great too. I listened to the audio book here and Jeffs was a fantastic narrator and engaging story teller. I enjoyed it so much I bought the book after listening, which is how I know how great the illustrations are too.
December 10, 2025
This is quite an interesting book. It is a wealth of information, perhaps too much to absorb at one time. I have had it checked out from the library for almost a month. In order to return it on time I had to pick and choose which saints to read about.
The author is an expert in saints and medieval religious history. Most of the research was done while she was working on her PhD at Cambridge as well as working at the British Museum and the British Library. She studied medieval illuminated English manuscripts and interned for a collaborative project with the Bibliotheque nationale de France which digitized hundreds of manuscripts from England and France, dating from between 700 and 1200CE. This served as the foundation for this book.
The book is arranged on the Christian medieval year timelines. The average peasant did not have watches to tell them when to sleep and when to work. The year had a seasonal cycle of occupations and leisure activities like planting and harvesting; the Church had its liturgical cycle of masses and rituals based around the life of Christ and last was a cycle of saint's days and feast celebrated throughout the year. The book is arranged by the months of the year telling about the saints whose feast are celebrated in that month. It also mentions astrological information important to the time and the symbols that were on the illuminated manuscripts of the time.
The author says that all saints' legends are human episodes in a divine history that begins with the world's creation by God. Then Lucifer is expelled to Hell; then Adam & Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Humanity's loss remains for several thousand of year during which time the dead go to Hell. Next the Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary. Mary agrees to carry and deliver the Son of God. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection redeem the sins of humanity and release good souls from hell to heaven. Humans must follow Christ's teachings and cleanse themselves of sin. This begins the struggle to escape the seductions of the Devil to achieve salvation.
The saints are humans living between the Resurrection and the Second Coming. Their superhuman faith set them apart. They advocate for the pious. She wrote about saints mostly in the British Isles. She only writes about saints from the time before the Catholic church took over canonization of the saints. She writes about the practice of pilgrimages, rituals on special days, shrine's with saint's relics, the manuscripts with the legends of the saints, altar pieces and art work devoted to the saints.
She also writes about the role of the Reformation that labeled these beliefs and practices "heathen" and condemned these practices
I read about saints I had heard of like St. Christopher, St. George, and St. Nicholas and ones I had not - Columba, Germanus and Frideswide. The most interesting to me was Marymas: From Eden to Golgotha. This legend establishes Mary's lineage back to Eden. Abraham gets a visit from God. Abraham is instructed to graft a stem cut from the Tree of Knowledge to one of Abraham's trees.. The tree is watched over by a angel. The tree grows until one morning Abraham's daughter crept down to the orchard. The apple tree was in bloom. The daughter takes on of the tree blossoms from the tree and at once the air is full of the fragrance of the blossom. The girl sniffs the broken stem and sap from the broken stem soaks into her skin and flows into her body. You need to read the rest of this legend to see what happens next and how this fits into Mary's lineage and her immaculate conception.
There is reference documentation at the end of the book, a calendar of feast days, an index and an epilogue that added more information. I recommend this for both just casual reading and for documented research.
The author is an expert in saints and medieval religious history. Most of the research was done while she was working on her PhD at Cambridge as well as working at the British Museum and the British Library. She studied medieval illuminated English manuscripts and interned for a collaborative project with the Bibliotheque nationale de France which digitized hundreds of manuscripts from England and France, dating from between 700 and 1200CE. This served as the foundation for this book.
The book is arranged on the Christian medieval year timelines. The average peasant did not have watches to tell them when to sleep and when to work. The year had a seasonal cycle of occupations and leisure activities like planting and harvesting; the Church had its liturgical cycle of masses and rituals based around the life of Christ and last was a cycle of saint's days and feast celebrated throughout the year. The book is arranged by the months of the year telling about the saints whose feast are celebrated in that month. It also mentions astrological information important to the time and the symbols that were on the illuminated manuscripts of the time.
The author says that all saints' legends are human episodes in a divine history that begins with the world's creation by God. Then Lucifer is expelled to Hell; then Adam & Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Humanity's loss remains for several thousand of year during which time the dead go to Hell. Next the Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary. Mary agrees to carry and deliver the Son of God. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection redeem the sins of humanity and release good souls from hell to heaven. Humans must follow Christ's teachings and cleanse themselves of sin. This begins the struggle to escape the seductions of the Devil to achieve salvation.
The saints are humans living between the Resurrection and the Second Coming. Their superhuman faith set them apart. They advocate for the pious. She wrote about saints mostly in the British Isles. She only writes about saints from the time before the Catholic church took over canonization of the saints. She writes about the practice of pilgrimages, rituals on special days, shrine's with saint's relics, the manuscripts with the legends of the saints, altar pieces and art work devoted to the saints.
She also writes about the role of the Reformation that labeled these beliefs and practices "heathen" and condemned these practices
I read about saints I had heard of like St. Christopher, St. George, and St. Nicholas and ones I had not - Columba, Germanus and Frideswide. The most interesting to me was Marymas: From Eden to Golgotha. This legend establishes Mary's lineage back to Eden. Abraham gets a visit from God. Abraham is instructed to graft a stem cut from the Tree of Knowledge to one of Abraham's trees.. The tree is watched over by a angel. The tree grows until one morning Abraham's daughter crept down to the orchard. The apple tree was in bloom. The daughter takes on of the tree blossoms from the tree and at once the air is full of the fragrance of the blossom. The girl sniffs the broken stem and sap from the broken stem soaks into her skin and flows into her body. You need to read the rest of this legend to see what happens next and how this fits into Mary's lineage and her immaculate conception.
There is reference documentation at the end of the book, a calendar of feast days, an index and an epilogue that added more information. I recommend this for both just casual reading and for documented research.
June 28, 2025
I’ve enjoyed all three of Jeffs’ books though found the second volume a little fragmented, rather like its source material. Here though the tales are once again given full scope and really deliver a sense of how the people of the medieval world engaged with them. In a wonderful example of just how little people change the saints appear (to me at least) to form the basis of a shared literary universe with their virtus standing in for a medieval X gene, complete with regular retcons to adapt to changing audiences and real world events. Their stories are divided into canon and legends, and while this may be the origin of the phrases the distinction will be instantly familiar to anyone who is aware of the most common modern usage of these terms.
While the political and social impact of the reformation go far beyond just the ending of the cult of saints it does appear that we lost something significant when we lost a connection to the saints, their stories and their feast days. Just as the introduction of Hymns Ancient and Modern removed some wonderful songs from common church usage, with many fortunately persisting as folk song, so the reformation turned the common knowledge of the stories of saints into shared, often localised folk tales. Imagine, if the universally popular stories of the MCU are removed over night and we are told by the reformers that we can only watch those of the rather po-faced DCEU, it would be a seismic cultural change which many people simply cannot contemplate.
Sitting in the audience at the Hay Festival, listening to Jeffs talk about the book and detailing how pilgrims would often buy badges representing the saints whose shrines they’ve visited, my eyes are inextricably drawn to my own Festival bag, covered in the badges of the places I’ve visited, the festivals attended (including Hay) and the bands I’ve seen, and once again I cannot help but think once again that beneath our modern preoccupations beats a medieval heart. My own collection of souvenirs includes those bought in the gift shops of Canterbury and Wells cathedrals, badges, trinkets and effigies not that far removed from the mass produced pilgrims badges and tokens of the medieval period, so badges representing the like and martyrdom of Becket can sit comfortably alongside those representing the life and sacrifice of Ironman.
The one saint who does persist in England post-reformation is George, today so beloved of England football fans everywhere. Having the simple red cross stand bright on a field of white makes sense as a rallying point in battle, however allowing the reformation to replace England’s older saints, Edward, Edmund, Cuthbert and Dunstan has always sat uncomfortably with me and reading his tale here, where he does slay a dragon but only when the daughter of the local king is threatened, rather than when it first started eating the common folk, just reinforces how he is very much the saint of kings and rulers. Maybe it’s time for another reformation after all.
Read this book to understand who we were and who we are now.
While the political and social impact of the reformation go far beyond just the ending of the cult of saints it does appear that we lost something significant when we lost a connection to the saints, their stories and their feast days. Just as the introduction of Hymns Ancient and Modern removed some wonderful songs from common church usage, with many fortunately persisting as folk song, so the reformation turned the common knowledge of the stories of saints into shared, often localised folk tales. Imagine, if the universally popular stories of the MCU are removed over night and we are told by the reformers that we can only watch those of the rather po-faced DCEU, it would be a seismic cultural change which many people simply cannot contemplate.
Sitting in the audience at the Hay Festival, listening to Jeffs talk about the book and detailing how pilgrims would often buy badges representing the saints whose shrines they’ve visited, my eyes are inextricably drawn to my own Festival bag, covered in the badges of the places I’ve visited, the festivals attended (including Hay) and the bands I’ve seen, and once again I cannot help but think once again that beneath our modern preoccupations beats a medieval heart. My own collection of souvenirs includes those bought in the gift shops of Canterbury and Wells cathedrals, badges, trinkets and effigies not that far removed from the mass produced pilgrims badges and tokens of the medieval period, so badges representing the like and martyrdom of Becket can sit comfortably alongside those representing the life and sacrifice of Ironman.
The one saint who does persist in England post-reformation is George, today so beloved of England football fans everywhere. Having the simple red cross stand bright on a field of white makes sense as a rallying point in battle, however allowing the reformation to replace England’s older saints, Edward, Edmund, Cuthbert and Dunstan has always sat uncomfortably with me and reading his tale here, where he does slay a dragon but only when the daughter of the local king is threatened, rather than when it first started eating the common folk, just reinforces how he is very much the saint of kings and rulers. Maybe it’s time for another reformation after all.
Read this book to understand who we were and who we are now.
October 28, 2025
Another fine book by this wonderful creator. We get the stories of the saints here – in her usual pattern of the tale and then a quick discussion of something relating – for, as she says, they ought to be as well-known and read in the same way as historical legend, fairy tale and more. There's the same whimsy as the latter, the same connection to what makes us humans (and the same veracity, you feel) as, say, Arthurian lore. But while we'd go to Tintagel and Glastonbury regardless of such legend, Chester, St Albans and numerous other places are only as rich and well-known as they are for this mediaeval mindset. Yes, if this does nothing else it proves the worth in exploring them and their stories.
Ordered by the feast day for each saint, and given extra information regarding each month in the liturgical calendar, and what would have been on the cards as duties for the faithful, we go through the year very nicely. Some of the saints we'd have heard of, some certainly not, but again it's always worthwhile to find out about them in such short form. And the writing around the saints covers such things as miracles (daft – but then, if Jesus did them so often and so well, they have to be part of saintliness), the gender issues behind the 'virtus' the saints had, and whether their image was idolatrous and something for the iconoclasts to see to.
It's not universally perfect – Jeffs doesn't ever drop into storytelling mode enough for the tales and out of it enough for the non-fiction, and St Agnes gets a quick story about something conveying her story, and not her legend itself. But flaws are few, and minor. Goose-whisperers, anti-Jewish blood-libellers, men begetting children through their thigh – there is a wealth of content here to match any Grimm-oire or fairy tale collection, and while those stories had characters who lived "happily ever after" these characters have feast days to keep them alive. And now this. For secular old me it is the least interesting of her books, but still one I happily experienced. Believers and scholars will relish this fervently, while I acknowledge its many merits more quietly.
Ordered by the feast day for each saint, and given extra information regarding each month in the liturgical calendar, and what would have been on the cards as duties for the faithful, we go through the year very nicely. Some of the saints we'd have heard of, some certainly not, but again it's always worthwhile to find out about them in such short form. And the writing around the saints covers such things as miracles (daft – but then, if Jesus did them so often and so well, they have to be part of saintliness), the gender issues behind the 'virtus' the saints had, and whether their image was idolatrous and something for the iconoclasts to see to.
It's not universally perfect – Jeffs doesn't ever drop into storytelling mode enough for the tales and out of it enough for the non-fiction, and St Agnes gets a quick story about something conveying her story, and not her legend itself. But flaws are few, and minor. Goose-whisperers, anti-Jewish blood-libellers, men begetting children through their thigh – there is a wealth of content here to match any Grimm-oire or fairy tale collection, and while those stories had characters who lived "happily ever after" these characters have feast days to keep them alive. And now this. For secular old me it is the least interesting of her books, but still one I happily experienced. Believers and scholars will relish this fervently, while I acknowledge its many merits more quietly.
November 28, 2024
Storyland has been on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, so I was intrigued by the idea of an audiobook of Amy Jeffs’ newest book Saints. I was also intrigued by the idea of approaching the stories of saints in the same way that myths and legends from other (often near-extinct) religions are told.
I have never really thought about saints in connection to mythology before, and I think it’s something we shy away from discussing. While some of the saints featured in this book do have their roots in real people, some do not, and can be traced back to Pagan legends that have been given a Christian update. I really enjoyed this more anthropological perspective, connecting the saints to modern worship where suitable, but otherwise looking at the role they played in the everyday lives of people in early Christian Britain.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
As well as telling the stories of the saints themselves, Jeffs also gives historical context on both the origin of the various legends, and how they became a part of daily life in that time. Across the course of the book, she also manages to give an account of how saints fell out of favour in British religion, with the final few chapters looking more and more at the reformation.
I was worried going into the audiobook that I’d feel like I was missing out; after all, the stunning illustrations are one of the unique appeals about Jeffs’ books. I still feel like I got a very special reading experience though, between the excellent narration from the author and the music that was used periodically to great effect.
Needless to say, this has bumped Storyland much higher up my TBR! It was a really wonderful listen, that I highly, highly recommend.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I have never really thought about saints in connection to mythology before, and I think it’s something we shy away from discussing. While some of the saints featured in this book do have their roots in real people, some do not, and can be traced back to Pagan legends that have been given a Christian update. I really enjoyed this more anthropological perspective, connecting the saints to modern worship where suitable, but otherwise looking at the role they played in the everyday lives of people in early Christian Britain.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
As well as telling the stories of the saints themselves, Jeffs also gives historical context on both the origin of the various legends, and how they became a part of daily life in that time. Across the course of the book, she also manages to give an account of how saints fell out of favour in British religion, with the final few chapters looking more and more at the reformation.
I was worried going into the audiobook that I’d feel like I was missing out; after all, the stunning illustrations are one of the unique appeals about Jeffs’ books. I still feel like I got a very special reading experience though, between the excellent narration from the author and the music that was used periodically to great effect.
Needless to say, this has bumped Storyland much higher up my TBR! It was a really wonderful listen, that I highly, highly recommend.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
October 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Saints: A New Legendary of Heroes, Humans and Magic.
I find saints fascinating; their lives, their beliefs and stalwart loyalty to their faith during a time of intense persecution and death.
The author and historian digs deep into her research to bring to live the legends of famous saints and not so famous ones.
She prefaces the chapters by stating most of the legends are legends and there are no historical facts to back up certain legends.
Her book revolves around the social, religious, and political power these saints cults had on the people and religious and political governments at the time the cults sprang up.
It's fascinating to learn the power and influence the saints and their followers had on the religious and political community at the time, even fomenting anti-semitism.
The was more research driven than I thought it would be.
I imagined the author would recount a famous story from the saint's life and discuss how it influenced the social and political customs of the day.
But she delves deeply as to how some of the legends originated and the historical, social and political impact it had on the world at that time.
I was hoping for a more straightforward retelling of the saints and their backgrounds.
The research is excellent and well rounded but this was too sociological and political for me.
I do agree that one of the reasons saints and their legends have endured after so many centuries is because they inspire faith, hope, and empowerment and a reminder that we are all capable to do and be better.
We may never be as saintly as the saints were purported to be, but their stories and legends remind us that we can strive to be better.
I find saints fascinating; their lives, their beliefs and stalwart loyalty to their faith during a time of intense persecution and death.
The author and historian digs deep into her research to bring to live the legends of famous saints and not so famous ones.
She prefaces the chapters by stating most of the legends are legends and there are no historical facts to back up certain legends.
Her book revolves around the social, religious, and political power these saints cults had on the people and religious and political governments at the time the cults sprang up.
It's fascinating to learn the power and influence the saints and their followers had on the religious and political community at the time, even fomenting anti-semitism.
The was more research driven than I thought it would be.
I imagined the author would recount a famous story from the saint's life and discuss how it influenced the social and political customs of the day.
But she delves deeply as to how some of the legends originated and the historical, social and political impact it had on the world at that time.
I was hoping for a more straightforward retelling of the saints and their backgrounds.
The research is excellent and well rounded but this was too sociological and political for me.
I do agree that one of the reasons saints and their legends have endured after so many centuries is because they inspire faith, hope, and empowerment and a reminder that we are all capable to do and be better.
We may never be as saintly as the saints were purported to be, but their stories and legends remind us that we can strive to be better.
October 18, 2024
I received an audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
SAINTS is a collection of myths and legends around saints who were worshipped in Britain, arranged by the calendar year, that give an insight into medieval life.
I liked that the tale contained a mix of during-life miracles, martyrdom stories, and post-death miracles. It was a nice mix of different tales, showing both why their lives (or deaths) led to veneration but also how the saints interacted with daily life. It also stops the stories feeling repetitive (there are only so many virgin martyrs one can hear about on the trot!)
The stories are accompanied by a brief commentary - about the historical background, if any, to the tale, what clues it can shed on medieval life, and where it fits into the overall stories of the rise and fall of saints within Western European Christianity. The overall trajectory of the book is charting this social history of saints.
It's neatly arranged into a calendar of the year, with saints appearing in the months of their feast days. It's very tidy, giving an order to tales that span centuries and a wide range of topics that otherwise could feel very haphazardly connected.
Amy Jeffs narrates, which I liked. There was a chance for her to bring the rhythm she had in her head when writing to the narration, emphasising the bits she saw as important. It was a nice glimpse into the author's mind.
SAINTS is a collection of myths and legends around saints who were worshipped in Britain, arranged by the calendar year, that give an insight into medieval life.
I liked that the tale contained a mix of during-life miracles, martyrdom stories, and post-death miracles. It was a nice mix of different tales, showing both why their lives (or deaths) led to veneration but also how the saints interacted with daily life. It also stops the stories feeling repetitive (there are only so many virgin martyrs one can hear about on the trot!)
The stories are accompanied by a brief commentary - about the historical background, if any, to the tale, what clues it can shed on medieval life, and where it fits into the overall stories of the rise and fall of saints within Western European Christianity. The overall trajectory of the book is charting this social history of saints.
It's neatly arranged into a calendar of the year, with saints appearing in the months of their feast days. It's very tidy, giving an order to tales that span centuries and a wide range of topics that otherwise could feel very haphazardly connected.
Amy Jeffs narrates, which I liked. There was a chance for her to bring the rhythm she had in her head when writing to the narration, emphasising the bits she saw as important. It was a nice glimpse into the author's mind.
February 28, 2025
Part non-fiction, part story-fied historical explanation of the medieval saints that once had major feast days to recognise their significance in British society.
I've never read an Amy Jeffs book that I didn't enjoy, and Saints is no different. While Storyland stills sits as my absolute favourite, Saints is a return to form.
Jeffs' book features truly interesting, at times gruesome and entertaining accounts of the saints - of how they came to be - of the follies of man - and often, sadly, the bloodlust of man. The book is separated into months of the year, and then within those into short, digestible chapters - some non-fiction books have extremely long chapters that, while interesting, can make picking it up a daunting task, especially before bed - not Saints.
Accompanied as always by lino-prints made by the author herself. The art has always been quite stylised, and the work seems a lot more confident than in previous books. I wish there were more, however - the lino-prints felt a bit sparse in places. I feel some chapters would have benefitted from actual high-quality photographs of some of the pilgrimage souvenirs, or other artefacts being described. Though Jeffs' descriptions of the badges, reliquaries and statues is detailed and wonderful, I can't help but feel it is a shame to not have photos accompanying these.
I've never read an Amy Jeffs book that I didn't enjoy, and Saints is no different. While Storyland stills sits as my absolute favourite, Saints is a return to form.
Jeffs' book features truly interesting, at times gruesome and entertaining accounts of the saints - of how they came to be - of the follies of man - and often, sadly, the bloodlust of man. The book is separated into months of the year, and then within those into short, digestible chapters - some non-fiction books have extremely long chapters that, while interesting, can make picking it up a daunting task, especially before bed - not Saints.
Accompanied as always by lino-prints made by the author herself. The art has always been quite stylised, and the work seems a lot more confident than in previous books. I wish there were more, however - the lino-prints felt a bit sparse in places. I feel some chapters would have benefitted from actual high-quality photographs of some of the pilgrimage souvenirs, or other artefacts being described. Though Jeffs' descriptions of the badges, reliquaries and statues is detailed and wonderful, I can't help but feel it is a shame to not have photos accompanying these.
October 24, 2024
This is a collection of legends and folklore about saints venerated in Medieval Britain, along with commentary on the aspects of daily life which made the legends relevant to medieval people as well as what is known (or not known) about the saints themselves. It was an interesting collection of stories, retold accessibly, and the contexts provided give them deeper meaning, although there were times when the historical accounts weren’t given with as much detail as I would prefer — the author assumes a fair amount of knowledge about British, and to an extent Western European, Medieval history and sometimes I felt like I was missing something (my knowledge being primarily Early Modern). But I enjoyed this glimpse inside the workings of the Cult of Saints, and shall be checking out Jeff’s other works.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was narrated by the author, who does an admirable job of conveying her enthusiasm for the subject,
I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was narrated by the author, who does an admirable job of conveying her enthusiasm for the subject,
November 10, 2024
A fascinating account of some of the more mythical Saint's, worshipped in medieval Britain. It's not just a dry recounting of Saint's though, something that bothers me with your usual folk lore mythology books, but it places them in the context of the time and explores how people related to and worshipped these holy martyrs. I especially liked the 'abortion' miracles and how wholly divorced they are from our modern understanding. That it was seen as a restoration of a woman's purity, not lost until the birth of the baby, and the abortion miracle performed on her allowed her to keep her vow of chastity. The production of the audiobook was fantastic, with music played at the start of each section which gave it such an enchanting atmosphere and I wish more audiobooks used music like this. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2025
"We still need stories of strength and miracles, for if they cannot offer safety, they can demand better."
Jeffs's third book is another wonderful adventure into medieval myth and legend! Even though I'm not of a Christian persuasion and weren't familiar with the majority of the saints, this book entertained, enthralled and made me think. Jeffs's thoroughly absorbing style has seen me finish this in no time. I could see the themes of stories that have survived in folklore and read some eerie things too - Thomas Beckett's story always creeps me out for some reason but I have no idea why. My favourite story, naturally, is the one of St. Edmund the Martyr refusing to let his country suffer under the Danes (I did know this one but I love it). Thoroughly enjoyed this and learnt so much about how the stories of the Saints can still impact us today.
Jeffs's third book is another wonderful adventure into medieval myth and legend! Even though I'm not of a Christian persuasion and weren't familiar with the majority of the saints, this book entertained, enthralled and made me think. Jeffs's thoroughly absorbing style has seen me finish this in no time. I could see the themes of stories that have survived in folklore and read some eerie things too - Thomas Beckett's story always creeps me out for some reason but I have no idea why. My favourite story, naturally, is the one of St. Edmund the Martyr refusing to let his country suffer under the Danes (I did know this one but I love it). Thoroughly enjoyed this and learnt so much about how the stories of the Saints can still impact us today.
August 12, 2025
I’m really surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I like non fiction books that touch on subjects I don’t know much about and this one perfectly balanced storytelling, fact, interest and a guiding hand. The author clearly has some skill in communicating their passion for their subject to those who may be coming to it fresh (as well as a skill for the humble brag - watch out for them!).
Each chapter is an interesting tale, followed by an explanation of what it means or tells us or simply how it came to be passed down. There’s no jargon, no expectation of prior or basic knowledge of the subject and where new ideas or terms are unavoidable, they are explained and exemplified.
This is the most enjoyable non-fiction I have read in a long time and I think some authors could do worse than take a leaf out of this book.
Each chapter is an interesting tale, followed by an explanation of what it means or tells us or simply how it came to be passed down. There’s no jargon, no expectation of prior or basic knowledge of the subject and where new ideas or terms are unavoidable, they are explained and exemplified.
This is the most enjoyable non-fiction I have read in a long time and I think some authors could do worse than take a leaf out of this book.
March 29, 2025
The story of the saints of medieval times covering the fourth to sixteenth centuries - the retelling of legends, romances, cults,artwork and occasionally poetry of the times.
I particularly enjoyed the stories surrounding the saints of Brigid, Patrick, Michael and George and the lesser known stories of St Curhbert and the Venerable Bede.
An ewell researched book and informative A compelling and beguiling read. If I have any criticism of the book it would be that there are too many people mentioned within the chapters relating to each saint and this can sometimes make the book confusing resulting that by reaching the end you sometimes are mixing up the saints and their legends!
Neverhless I thoroughly enjoyed the book
I particularly enjoyed the stories surrounding the saints of Brigid, Patrick, Michael and George and the lesser known stories of St Curhbert and the Venerable Bede.
An ewell researched book and informative A compelling and beguiling read. If I have any criticism of the book it would be that there are too many people mentioned within the chapters relating to each saint and this can sometimes make the book confusing resulting that by reaching the end you sometimes are mixing up the saints and their legends!
Neverhless I thoroughly enjoyed the book
October 8, 2024
This collection is excellent! The stories are well researched, composed in a way that is easy to understand and appreciate. The author narrates the audiobook really well and delivers sone truly engaging tales.
Overall, I can't find any flaws. I would highly recommend this collection.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC
Overall, I can't find any flaws. I would highly recommend this collection.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC
October 19, 2024
Thankyou to net galley for this arc I have listened to Amy before and she is so passionate about her work that I find her captivating. The stories surrounding our own folklore are told so infrequently compared to greek/Egyptian/roman/norse i find her passion refreshing and I have tried my hardest to spread her passion. Beautifully written and read.
January 13, 2025
This third volume examines facts and folklore round saints. I can acknowledge the sainthood of all believers while admiring the spiritual and theological exemplars here , and believe in miracles while being sceptical about some of these wilder stories . I can be grateful for the reformation while lamenting some of its destruction .As a history buff the mix remains a winning one .
November 22, 2024
The stories and legends of saints are endlessly fascinating. This is a brave attempt to bring stories and history together linking the months of the year to the saints daus. I enjoyed it in parts but found myself drifting by the time I got to March but that is almost certainly just me!
December 3, 2025
This is the third book I’ve read by Amy Jeffs. This time it’s about saints, some well-known, others not, but written in the style of folklore and then explained afterwards with sources in her usual style. As usual I loved it for the sheer beauty of her writing.
September 18, 2024
Just as thoroughly entertaining and insightful as her previous works
October 10, 2024
Another amazing blend of history, stories and art, liked it more than Wild and almost as much as Storyland!
October 23, 2024
Interesting and occasionally laugh out loud funny. Religious folks of the past believed some strange things.
November 1, 2024
These should be fascinating, but her style isn’t for em
November 17, 2024
Everything Amy Jeff's writes is profound and beautiful and full of so much depth and wonder that at this point I would read her shopping list.
February 10, 2025
DNF. Absolutely bizarre rubbish.
March 5, 2025
This was a really interesting look at how the lore of saints has changed over the years featuring gorgeous illustrations woodcuts.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews