
In this intimate portrait, the author invites listeners into the restless heart of the 13th‑century world, a time when faith surged through every village and city like a shared dream. Written with scholarly care yet brimming with personal devotion, the narrative opens as a humble offering to friends in Strasbourg, echoing the simple mite that won a soul its paradise.
The story follows the young Francis of Assisi as he wanders the streets of his hometown, feels the stir of a longing that pulls him away from wealth toward a life of radical poverty. Guided by visions of love and sorrow, he embraces a path that will reshape Christian spirituality, gathering companions who share his yearning for a holy cause. Listeners will hear the early moments of his conversion, his daring renunciation of worldly comforts, and the first steps toward founding a movement that would echo across Europe.
Through vivid descriptions and thoughtful reflections, the biography captures both the personal and the historical, offering a window into a period where faith, doubt, and the desire for a deeper truth collided in the life of one extraordinary man.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (687K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Victoria Woosley and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2006-07-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1928
Best known for writing one of the first modern biographies of St. Francis of Assisi, this French clergyman and historian helped spark renewed interest in Franciscan history. His work was widely read, debated, and influential well beyond academic circles.
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