A Short Reader of Medieval Saints

A Short Reader of Medieval Saints is a useful primer for any course dealing with medieval theology or history. Moreover, it could also serve as a starting point for examining the significance of hagiography and fable that surround the lives of saints. Students will find it informative, accessible, and even occasionally entertaining, if not shocking; while instructors and professors will value the way it covers a larger swath of material without sacrificing too much in its size. Without reservation, Stouck's newest offering is worth a hearty look. Koinonia

An original and wise choice of extracts illustrating the wide array of hagiographical sources and styles. This collection of translated medieval saints' lives is an ideal manual for students eager to explore the Middle Ages. Isabelle Cochelin, University of Toronto

Mary-Ann Stouck's A Short Reader of Medieval Saints stands apart in offering an abbreviated but judicious selection of saints' lives perfectly suited as a brief introduction. The author's choices represent not only the classic texts of male sanctity: Anthony the hermit, Benedict the monastic leader, and Francis the charismatic preacher but also include the stories of the female saints that have so inspired modern readers: Perpetua the virgin martyr, Radegund the defiant queen, Mary of Egypt the penitent prostitute, and Catherine of Siena the mystic bride of Christ. For the most part presented in their entirety, the texts range from accounts of torture and trials, to descriptions of virtues and visions, to letters in the saint's own words. Excerpts from the Golden Legend present tales from a best-seller of the Middle Ages, while other selections convey a vivid picture of cult practices ranging from relic theft to pilgrimage. In sum, the book fills a particular need with an elegant sufficiency. Cynthia J. Hahn, Hunter College and the Graduate Center-CUNY