Narrative Non-fiction · Paperback

A Brief Introduction to Francis of Assisi

Norwegian title: En kort introduksjon til Frans av Assisi

Francis of Assisi was born in 1182 or 1183, and died in 1226. Since then, his memory has been kept alive both within and outside the Catholic Church. Even in our time, he holds a great appeal. Not only theologians, but also philosophers, historians, and fiction writers are constantly writing new books about him. The stories of Francis of Assisi have also been adapted for film numerous times.

Assisi in Umbria, where Francis spent much of his life, remains one of the Catholic Church's most important holy sites in Italy, along with La Verna, where Francis received one of his revelations. He was canonized as a saint early on, and has since held a unique position within Christianity and European cultural history. Who was he, and why did he acquire such a unique status and lasting influence, extending right up to the present day?

“With Francis of Assisi, we are faced with an almost miraculous man who is a joy to read about. He must have been a rare and noble personality, and Tarald Rasmussen has written a book that is a pleasure to read, not least because it is so rich in detail.”Jørn-Kr. Jørgensen, Bokstaver.no

“[…] church historian Tarald Rasmussen provides a sober introduction to the life and reception history of one of Italy's patron saints, skillfully steering clear of the temptation to mythologize […] an impressive weave of chronology and individual topics, whereas other similar introductory books zealously tend to adhere strictly to the timeline. I therefore believe Rasmussen succeeds well in alternating between critical-historical historiography and thematic introduction”Peter Johansen, Salongen

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