Francis of Assisi: Historical and literary perspectives

Historical and literary perspectives on the life of Francis of Assisi are being explored through the works of Franco Cardini and Julien Green.

Franco Cardini presents a factual biographical account of the man born Giovanni Battista Bernardone. Cardini moves past legends to describe a pragmatic response to the moral and economic crises of 13th-century Italy. The account highlights Francis’s radical commitment to poverty and his relationship with Clare of Assisi, who founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) and became the first woman in church history to write her own rule.

In a different approach, novelist Julien Green offers a literary exploration of the saint's life in his novel ‘Brother Francis’. Green’s work contrasts the worldly, hedonistic lifestyle of the young Francis with his eventual conversion and the establishment of the Order of Friars Minor. The narrative covers his mystical experiences and the struggles surrounding the Franciscan rule, aiming to uncover the truth beneath various historical chronicles.