St. Francis of Assisi
G. K. Chesterton
Read by Phil Chenevert





For Chesterton, Francis of Assisi is a great paradoxical figure, a man who loved women but vowed himself to chastity; an artist who loved the pleasures of the natural world as few have loved them, but vowed himself to the most austere poverty, stripping himself naked in the public square so all could see that he had renounced his worldly goods; a clown who stood on his head in order to see the world aright. Chesterton gives us Francis in his world-the riotously colorful world of the High Middle Ages, a world with more pageantry and romance than we have seen before or since. Here is the Francis who tried to end the Crusades by talking to the Saracens, and who interceded with the emperor on behalf of the birds. Here is the Francis who inspired a revolution in art that began with Giotto and a revolution in poetry that began with Dante. Here is the Francis who prayed and danced with pagan abandon, who talked to animals, who invented the creche. I read this book as a young man and not only did it introduce me to the amazing world of Chesterton, but it was a revelation of how an entire culture could be captured in a slim volume. (summary by Phil Chenevert, Wikipedia and various other PD sources) (4 hr 50 min)
Chapters
The Problem of St. Francis | 19:12 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
The World of St. Francis | 36:37 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Francis the Fighter | 29:55 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Francis the Builder | 25:02 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Le Jongleur de Dieu | 32:35 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
The Little Poor Man | 31:57 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
The Three Orders | 32:53 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
The Mirror of Christ | 31:38 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Miracles and Death | 28:39 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
The Testament of St. Francis | 22:06 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Reviews
Interesting take on Francis of Assisi





Thanks to Phil Chenevert for this entertaining read! G.K.Chesterton's view of the Saint is quite refreshing and open-minded, yet the author often spends long paragraphs on purely rhetorical ramblings, which although very well written, distract from the actual analysis. All in all well worth listening to.





Well read piece by a brilliant writer about a person whose love of Christ, humanity, and God's creation make me want to follow Christ and be kind to His creation, especially people, more than ever!
Arthur L





Some errors but competent throughout.