Overview

From the award-winning author of Property and bestselling author of Mary Reilly—""a bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story” (Los Angeles Times), inspired by the fresco cycles that depict the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Drawing from myriad sources and moving in reverse chronological order, she begins in the dark, final days, with a suffering Francesco on the verge of death, then shows us the unwashed and innocent revolutionary, unafraid to lecture a pope on Christ’s message. We see his mystical friendship with Chiara di Offreducci, a nobleman’s daughter who turns her back on the world to join him, and finally, the frivolous young Francesco on the deserted road where his encounter with a leper leads him to an ecstatic embrace of God. Salvation is at once an illuminating glimpse into the medieval world and an original and intimate portrait of the man whose legend has resonated through the centuries.

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9780375708831

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Reviews

Elegantly written and strikingly intelligent . [Martin's] graceful book is very much a work of art. <i>The New Orleans Times-Picayune</i> Voluptuous language and ecstatic imagery. <i>The Seattle Times</i> A biography so vivid and compelling in detail that it reads like a novel. <i>Fort Worth Star-Telegram</i> Valerie Martin has the artistry to render a great life in a series of perfect miniatures. Cathleen Medwick, author of <i>Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul</i> Dazzling . An inspired work of the imagination, grounded in the truth of a powerful life whose mystery still captivates us. Patricia Hampl Compelling . The story of a faith that is deep, dedicated and all-encompassing. <i>The Oregonian</i> <i>Salvation</i> is at once Giottoesque and Gothic, terrifying and consoling . One of those rare books with the grace and power to change your life. Paul Mariani A bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story. <i>Los Angeles Times</i> Stimulating . Brilliantly done. <i>The New York Times</i> Martin's depiction of Francis through the eyes of his followers is her greatest achievement. Relating their devotion as well as their confusion, she paints a subtle and contradictory portrait of a holy personality-baffling and frustrating, sometimes offensive, but also radiant. <i>The San Francisco Chronicle</i> Martin has a great touch for vivid detail, for landscape settings, for qualities of light and times of day . An aesthetic St. Francis is one who commands our attention, who draws us irresistibly toward a still point of wonder and self-reflection. <i>Chicago Tribune</i>

Elegantly written and strikingly intelligent.... [Martin's] graceful book is very much a work of art. -The New Orleans Times-Picayune Voluptuous language and ecstatic imagery. -The Seattle Times A biography so vivid and compelling in detail that it reads like a novel. -Fort Worth Star-Telegram Valerie Martin has the artistry to render a great life in a series of perfect miniatures. -Cathleen Medwick, author of Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul Dazzling.... An inspired work of the imagination, grounded in the truth of a powerful life whose mystery still captivates us. -Patricia Hampl Compelling.... The story of a faith that is deep, dedicated and all-encompassing. -The Oregonian Salvation is at once Giottoesque and Gothic, terrifying and consoling.... One of those rare books with the grace and power to change your life. -Paul Mariani A bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story. -Los Angeles Times Stimulating.... Brilliantly done. -The New York Times Martin's depiction of Francis through the eyes of his followers is her greatest achievement. Relating their devotion as well as their confusion, she paints a subtle and contradictory portrait of a holy personality-baffling and frustrating, sometimes offensive, but also radiant. -The San Francisco Chronicle Martin has a great touch for vivid detail, for landscape settings, for qualities of light and times of day.... An aesthetic St. Francis is one who commands our attention, who draws us irresistibly toward a still point of wonder and self-reflection. -Chicago Tribune

Elegantly written and strikingly intelligent.... [Martin's] graceful book is very much a work of art. -- The New Orleans Times-Picayune <br><br> Voluptuous language and ecstatic imagery. -- The Seattle Times <br><br> A biography so vivid and compelling in detail that it reads like a novel. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram <br><br> Valerie Martin has the artistry to render a great life in a series of perfect miniatures. --Cathleen Medwick, author of Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul <br><br> Dazzling.... An inspired work of the imagination, grounded in the truth of a powerful life whose mystery still captivates us. --Patricia Hampl<br><br> Compelling.... The story of a faith that is deep, dedicated and all-encompassing. -- The Oregonian <br><br> Salvation is at once Giottoesque and Gothic, terrifying and consoling.... One of those rare books with the grace and power to change your life. --Paul Mariani<br><br> A bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story. -- Los Angeles Times <br><br> Stimulating.... Brilliantly done. -- The New York Times <br><br> Martin's depiction of Francis through the eyes of his followers is her greatest achievement. Relating their devotion as well as their confusion, she paints a subtle and contradictory portrait of a holy personality-baffling and frustrating, sometimes offensive, but also radiant. -- The San Francisco Chronicle <br><br> Martin has a great touch for vivid detail, for landscape settings, for qualities of light and times of day.... An aesthetic St. Francis is one who commands our attention, who draws us irresistibly toward a still point of wonder and self-reflection. -- Chicago Tribune

Elegantly written and strikingly intelligent.... [Martin's] graceful book is very much a work of art. -- The New Orleans Times-Picayune Voluptuous language and ecstatic imagery. -- The Seattle Times A biography so vivid and compelling in detail that it reads like a novel. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram Valerie Martin has the artistry to render a great life in a series of perfect miniatures. --Cathleen Medwick, author of Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul Dazzling.... An inspired work of the imagination, grounded in the truth of a powerful life whose mystery still captivates us. --Patricia Hampl Compelling.... The story of a faith that is deep, dedicated and all-encompassing. -- The Oregonian Salvation is at once Giottoesque and Gothic, terrifying and consoling.... One of those rare books with the grace and power to change your life. --Paul Mariani A bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story. -- Los Angeles Times Stimulating.... Brilliantly done. -- The New York Times Martin's depiction of Francis through the eyes of his followers is her greatest achievement. Relating their devotion as well as their confusion, she paints a subtle and contradictory portrait of a holy personality-baffling and frustrating, sometimes offensive, but also radiant. -- The San Francisco Chronicle Martin has a great touch for vivid detail, for landscape settings, for qualities of light and times of day.... An aesthetic St. Francis is one who commands our attention, who draws us irresistibly toward a still point of wonder and self-reflection. -- Chicago Tribune

A bold retelling of a familiar, beloved story. - Los Angeles Times <br> Stimulating.... Brilliantly done. - The New York Times <br> Martin's depiction of Francis through the eyes of his followers is her greatest achievement. Relating their devotion as well as their confusion, she paints a subtle and contradictory portrait of a holy personality-baffling and frustrating, sometimes offensive, but also radiant. -The San Francisco Chronicle <br> <br> Martin has a great touch for vivid detail, for landscape settings, for qualities of light and times of day. . . . An aesthetic St. Francis is one who commands our attention, who draws us irresistibly toward a still point of wonder and self-reflection. -Chicago Tribune<br>

Author Information

VALERIE MARTIN is the author of eleven novels, four collections of short fiction, and a biography of Saint Francis of Assisi, titled Salvation. She has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as the Kafka Prize (for Mary Reilly) and Britain's Orange Prize (for Property).

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