Francesco: A Story of Saint Francis of Assisi

by Madeline Pecora Nugent

He underwent a radical conversion. Began a religious movement that swept the whole world. Brought new life to the Church. Lived in deepest intimacy with Christ. The story of Saint Francis of Assisi has been told many times. But never like this. In this compelling biography, Madeline Nugent skillfully weaves together years of research into authentic narrative that reads like a novel. She bases her work on primary sources, scholarly reading, time spent in Assisi, and interviews with Franciscan experts to vividly recreate the world of Saint Francis through the eyes of those who knew him best―and through the words of Francis himself.

544 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2022

Reviews

[Brady]

This was the first biography of St. Francis that I have read. I enjoyed it, but was a little taken aback by the style initially. This is a semi-fictional retelling of the life of St. Francis through the eyes of those around him. It was a fascinating experiment and succeeded for the most part. That being said, there were a few times that I disagreed about how characters were portrayed.

The research put into this is astounding, and for that I commend the author. It is a true skill to produce something academically stimulating and faith-promoting at the same time. I would recommend this work.

[Mary]

At first, this was a hard book to read. As I read further into it, I began to understand the format. This turned out to be a fascinating book. I was a little surprised that St. Francis' relationship with the animals wasn't described in more detail, but perhaps that wasn't the purpose of this book. I found this to be a fascinating account of St. Francis' life and the order.

[Sarah Zaso]

These stories brought about fruitful reflection on obedience, humility, and fraternity. It has been a while since I felt so close to my dear friend in heaven, and his life never ceases to delight and inspire me. Francesco, pray for us!

[Alan Noyes]

Great biography, in the style of a novel, of St Francis of Assisi. Very engaging and sources are cited. Explains what is conjecture and what is fact.