L'Immoraliste (Folio)

Book Description

Andre Gide is one of the most representative of twentieth- century French writers. His L'Immoraliste is, in many respects, the most moving and imaginative of his works. The situations depicted are vividly concrete and rich in suggestion. It raises problems of responsibility and freedom, experience and understanding, ethics and action, truth and misrepresentation, and sincerity and rationalization. The subtle underlying interplay of form and intent permits interpretation on several levels according to the intellectual maturity of the reader. The extensive beginning essay in English is designed to alert readers to the many provocative facets of the novel. The editors' notes and vocabulary are never perfunctory; they illuminate, orient, stimulate.

The Immoralist/L'Immoraliste: A Dual-Language Book

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The Immoralist/L'Immoraliste: A Dual-Language Book
Andre Gide
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

A Season in Hell and Other Works/Une saison en enfer et oeuvres diverses (Dual-Language Book)
French Stories (Dual-Language)
Tartuffe and the Bourgeois Gentleman (Dual-Language)
Nineteenth-Century French Short Stories (Dual-Language)
Selected Short Stories (Dual-Language)

ASIN: 0486426955

Book Description

One of Gide's best-known works, The Immoralist concerns the unhappy consequences of amoral hedonism, telling the story of a man who travels through Europe and North Africa and attempts to transcend the limitations of conventional morality. The author's simplicity of style is skillfully retained in this translation, which also preserves the passion of the original.

Cahiers Andre Gide #1: Les Debuts Litteraires D'andre Walter A L'immoraliste

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Cahiers Andre Gide #1: Les Debuts Litteraires D'andre Walter A L'immoraliste

Manufacturer: French & European Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Decor Et Dualisme, L' Immoraliste D' Andre' Gide (Stanford French and Italian Studies)

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Decor Et Dualisme, L' Immoraliste D' Andre' Gide (Stanford French and Italian Studies)
Paul A. Fortier
Manufacturer: Anma Libri
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

French | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0915838729

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l immoraliste roman

Manufacturer: mercure de france
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: B000GHGISK

$L'\Immoraliste$
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Excellent Introduction to the world of Gide
L'immoraliste

L'\Immoraliste
Andre Gide
Manufacturer: French & European Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0785922857

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Introduction to the world of Gide.......2003-12-01

This book is actually quite accessible to the student of French, compared to many of Gide's other works. It is an excellent introduction to Gide, and comprises an essential part of any student of literature's repertoire. It is still very relevant to our times, and while not as avant-garde or shocking as it must have been at the time of its publication, it is still a fascinating look at human morality and social mores.

L'immoraliste.......2002-12-02

Complicated structure. Was difficult to read even at the advanced level. Very depressing story.

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L'IMMORALISTE

Manufacturer: Le Livre De Poche
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HTWBP6

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L'Immoraliste
André Gide
Manufacturer: Mercvre de France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: B000OY3TNM

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L'Immoraliste
Andre Gide
Manufacturer: Livre De Poche
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000RPA9JK

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L'Immoraliste
Andr? Gide
Manufacturer: Mercvre De France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K02YMM

Book Description

Weasel fumbled the cloth aside. It was a shield, steel plate over dark wood, with rotting leather straps. It looked old, and battered, and real.

A former pickpocket, Weasel is the type of boy most people would avoid. Certainly, no one would ever trust him -- except for one man. Justice Holis took Weasel off the streets, gave him a home, a job as his clerk, and a key to his house. Weasel's new life may be a bit boring, but for the first time someone actually cares about him.

Now Justice Holis is the one in trouble. Arrested for treason, he will surely hang unless someone saves him -- and that someone can only be Weasel. But what can one boy do? Not much without help.

So with a mysterious girl named Arisa by his side, Weasel goes in search of the Falcon, the most dangerous bandit in Deorthas, but also the one person who would be able -- and possibly willing -- to stage a prison break.

But Weasel's fate changes when he stumbles upon a shield. Could this be the one said to have been lost for centuries, the one that bestows power on whoever holds it? If so, Weasel, once a lowly pickpocket, could be the most powerful person in the land.

With extraordinary craftsmanship, Hilari Bell weaves a fantasy adventure story that will have readers captivated from the first word to the last.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent adventure book.......2007-10-05

I read this book aloud to my daughter in an effort to get her to realize that there are more books out there than Harry Potter!

It was a good read with enough action, twists and suspense that she frequently asked for "one more chapter..." at bedtime.

We're looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy!

FANTASY ROCKS!!!!!!.......2007-05-21

I LOVE fantasy and this book is great. I rank it with the Forgotten Realms and Artemis Fowl!!!
Absolutely wonderful!

Average customer rating:

A Nice Piece of Modern Historical fantasy.
will appeal to historical fiction, romance and fantasy fans

Outlaw Sword
J. Ardian Lee
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Son of the Sword
Sword of King James
Glencoe, A Romance of Scotland
Circle of Honor (The Scottish Crown Series, Book 1)
Knight Tenebrae

ASIN: 0441010784
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Book Description

In Son of the Sword, J. Ardian Lee transported readers to a land of unsurpassed beauty-at a time when its people faced their darkest hour. Now, twentieth-century American Dylan Matheson returns to eighteenth-century Scotland-to challenge history itself.

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In Son of the Sword, J. Ardian Lee transported us to a land of unsurpassed beauty-at a time when its people faced their darkest hour. Now, in Outlaw Sword, we return with modern-day Dylan Matheson to eighteenth-century Scotland-where he is a hunted outlaw-as he faces every mortal danger to reunite with his true love and save his newborn son from the dark fate history has in store for him.

Customer Reviews:

A Nice Piece of Modern Historical fantasy........2003-09-11

Well, I hate to see a promising writer trashed, so I'm going to make up for it. J. Ardian Lee is very talented, and she's enthralling. She writes passionately for people who, like herself, would love to go back to another era. It takes some imagination to get through the premise, but that's fine; it's fantasy, at the core, and that's what it's all about. Her historical accuracy is outstanding. Few authors do it better (I can think of Stephen R. Lawhead--and this series reminds me of his Song of Albion books--but that's it).

It's a great, quick, fun read. It's not Tolkien. It's not even Mervyn Peake. But it's good, and fun. Harry Potter for adults.

will appeal to historical fiction, romance and fantasy fans.......2002-07-06

Once upon a time twentieth century American Dylan Matheson was transported through time by a fairy Sinnan Eire to the Scottish highlands to act as a protector for the country against the hated English. While there, Dylan met and fell in love with beautiful Highland lass Cait. He was going to marry her until the English declared him an outlaw and she was given in marriage to a Scottish lowlander.

After the Jacobite defeat at Sheffmuir, Dylan briefly returns to his own time to heal before being transported back to early eighteenth century Scotland, determined to find his Cait and their son. He goes to work for Cait's husband and through an unusual set of circumstances, finds a way to legally marry Cait. Dylan knows happiness for a brief time but when danger threatens them, he hopes that somebody from his time of birth will travel back in time to save the one he holds closest to his heart.

One of the most charming characters in this book is Sinnan, an adorable bumbling member of the fey, who tries, heart and soul, to make Dylan happy. The hero is an honorable, likable man who strives to do what he believes is right, no matter the personal cost. Based on actual historical events, OUTLAW SWORD will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, romance and fantasy. The author brings alive the Scottish Highlands just decades before Culloden.

Book Description

"Ancient sword of my people, bring me a hero, to save from tyranny the sons and daughters of this land. Let a Matheson lay hands on you and become that hero."

So speaks the faerie Sianann as she musters what is left of her powers in a desperate attempt to save her beloved homeland. In 1713, Scotland's Jacobite rebels face their darkest hour. They need new blood, a new leader to help them fight English oppression. And they are about to get one...

Dylan Matheson is an ordinary guy with ordinary problems: family, girlfriend-the usual. But he likes his life, living above the dojo where he teaches martial arts and swordfighting. Then one day at a Medieval Faire, he sees a magnificent broadsword. He takes it in hand-and is transported to a time and place he's only read about.

Now Dylan Matheson, ordinary guy, is about to embark upon an extraordinary adventure. And it will take all of his skills-plus a bit of magic-just to survive.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Read .......2006-09-16

An excellent read. Enough historical accuracy to make it compelling without getting too boring. Could use a little more action but overall a very excellent read. Very entertaining. There are other books in the series. I think I'd spring for the money to try the second. (This is the first in the series)

Enjoyable, good story, enjoyable characters.......2006-01-10

I had read earlier comments on boards about this book being a "bomb," and almost sent it back to the library. Then I read a few pages, and still, almost sent it back to the library. My compulsion to read the story kept me going, however, past the modern day beginning (which is a bit awkwardly written, as it does not even give the read a glimpse of the complexity of the main character that appears later on). I am glad I read on.

The story is about a modern-day man, Dylan Matheson, self-employed as a martial arts expert, and man of Scottish descent. He is very into his Scottish ancestry, and as such participates in games and gatherings that support and entertain his interest. During the course of one of these, he encounters a rare authentic and ancient Scottish broadsword, and wanting to handle it, makes a bet with the owner, to have a contest to "first touch." He wins the contest, and approaches to inspect the sword.

Several hundred years earlier (early 1700s), prior to the first Jacobite uprisings, the beginnings of British/Scots battle finds a faerie making a spell upon this very sword -- to find a Matheson (clan name) worthy of the sword and able to make a difference in the Scots clash against the Brits. Thus, Dylan, being THE ONE for whom her spell was cast, finds himself transported back to the early 1700s, just prior to events that transform history.

The story is essentially how he bides his time, eventually believing he cannot return to his own time, and over time, the events and characters that transform his sense of wanting to return to the year 2000 to one of truly belonging in 1700s Scotland. The characters are well-written, some likable and some not, the plot is interesting, and the events are well defined. I finished the book with great anticipation for reading the next in the series.

J. Ardian Lee Fan.......2005-08-22

I will say this, the series that this book begins is one of my favorites.

That being said, "Son of the Sword" is my least favorite book. Many of the other reviewers have commented (some quite nastily) about the poor plotting and unsympathetic characters. It's true, this books has FIRST NOVEL written all over it; however, everyone starts somewhere, and very few authors hit one out of the ballpark on the first try.

One of the things I like about this book is the narrator's voice. Although one previous reviewer talked about breaking the fourth wall, I'd like to point out that the concept of the "Walls" of fiction is very modern. This books appeals to me, I suppose, because my sensibilities often lie outside modern tastes. Ms. Lee's style of writing is definitely modern in tone and diction, but pre-modern is style. It's a strange combination, but I find it, at the very least, interesting.

Yes, this book is somewhat predictable and somewhat formulaic, but the others in the series (especially "The Sword of King James") are excellent. Ms. Lee's craft was obviously refined by the time "Sword of the White Rose" was written. "Son of the Sword is a worthy beginning, and leads up to better decendents.

SGIAN DUBH BUT NO DIRK.......2004-03-10

If you're one to enjoy a very light Highlander story and have already read, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, keeping with the title metaphor, the claymore of the genra, then Son of the Sword may just barely fit the bill. I found myself alternating from hating the simplistic plodding style and poorly developed characters to enjoying the Gaelic speech and minor history lessons. Another reviewer was agitated at the 4th wall being broken and they're right - periodically characters give history lessons to others, but clearly designed for the reader - the mark of a poor writer. I was surprised at the sudden appearence of Rob Roy and was prepared to be irked by this - however, the book seemed to pick up slightly at this point - but not enough for a more glowing review.

son of the sword.......2002-07-18

Very enjoyable, combining present day misfortunes along with past adventures. Once started this book was hard to put down, finished it that day. My son picked it up, enjoyed it and knew I would also.

Robin McKinley Set (The Hero and the Crown, The Outlaws of Sherwood, The Blue Sword)

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Robin McKinley Set (The Hero and the Crown, The Outlaws of Sherwood, The Blue Sword)
Robin McKinley , and Peter Dickinson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

The Tenth Planet: Final Assault (Tenth Planet)
Average customer rating:

Worth your time

An easy and fun read

Fast-paced adventure novel

Pure escapism

The whole novel is one climax

The Tenth Planet: Final Assault (Tenth Planet)
Dean Wesley Smith , and Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn | ( R ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Smith, Dean Wesley | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Tenth Planet: Oblivion: Book 2

The Tenth Planet (Book 1)

Stargate SG-1 - Season 10

ASIN: 0345421426
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Book Description

2018: COUNTDOWN TO APOCALYPSE

Two worlds are locked in mortal conflict. The aliens of the Tenth Planet must harvest Earth's vast resources soon--before their world's elliptical orbit hurls them back into deep space for another 2000 years. If they fail, their species cannot survive the long journey into the void. This is their last chance to avoid extinction.

On Earth, scientists work frantically to stop the huge alien fleet, but even nuclear weapons have only slowed the attackers' dreadful onslaught. Now the ultimate battle for the fate of Earth--and all human life--draws near. And as more powerful weapons are brought to bear, winning the war may be more devastating than the invasion.

A thrilling science fiction saga of epic proportions, THE TENTH PLANET: FINAL ASSAULT delivers high-tech action and pulse-pounding drama that culminate in the explosive finale to a rousing trilogy.

Customer Reviews:

Worth your time.......2003-10-09

This is the third book and follows Tenth Planet and Tenth Planet Oblivion. I gave this one four stars instead of the five I gave the first two books because I was led to believe that this story was a trilogy not an open ended series. Don't get me wrong, I like long stories, but I wasn't expecting it here. I was expecting a satisfying conclusion to the Tenth Planet trilogy, but instead I got an exciting ending to book three and an open invitation for a sequel.

So, where is book four? It doesn't seem to have been written and I want it! Anyone know if Smith will/has written book four?

Mark E. Cooper
Warrior Within (ISBN:0-9545122-0-0)

An easy and fun read.......2001-11-25

The third and final book in the Tenth Planet series. Somebody earlier said it was pure escapism and they were correct. I read this strictly for fun and I enjoyed it.

Fast-paced adventure novel.......2001-11-14

In the third and final book of the series, Smith describes Earth and Malmuria (our solar system's tenth planet) locked again in mortal struggle. Both worlds have gained experience from their previous encounter six months before and are now prepared to confront each other with new resources and knowledge. The war is a fierce one, for only one species can win.

This is the type of book that would make a perfect movie. Much action, many dialogues, places which are described but would much better be seen on screen, planes, spaceships which would make the special effects people happy. This is how you must think of this book: an adventure/SF movie. You should not look for philosophy or character development, monologues, any "serios literature" stuff. This book does not intend to do that.

It is easy-reading, but pleasant nevertheless, the action is fast-paced, it keeps you on your toes all the time, the suspense is mastered beautifully.

The book gets a minus (hence 4/5 stars) because of the human characters. The book pictures the entire human race as prejudiced. The aliens are more human than the humans.
The aliens explain the reasons for their actions all the time and are considerate towards the human race - before the war had started, every time they had "harvested" the Earth they had tried to do minimal damage to the population. Their violence, which shocks so much Earth's people, is never unjustified, it is dictated only by their will to survive - and we all can understand that.
On the other hand, humans always refer to the aliens as "those bastards", they only want to "blast them off", think only of killing them. Never once did they try to find a way to solve the conflict other than by completely exterminating the Malmuria. Kind of like Will Smith in "Independence Day": "Take that, you bastard". If that sums up the human attitude towards an alien species, I'm disappointed.

And another thing: I had expected the nano-stuff Portia designed to be more used. All that work... for nothing. This was quite a let-down.

Still, a pleasant reading. And I appreciated the quite unexpected ending... read it to see what I mean.

Pure escapism.......2001-07-09

Although published as three separate books, the Tenth Planet trilogy should really have been released as a single compilation. None of the three books are able to stand on their own. As a set, they are a light but engaging read. These books are pure escapist fun, with stereotypical characters, some plausible pseudo science and a fast paced plot. As long as you are not expecting great literature like Gene Wolfe and are prepared for sci fi that is more in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs, you will enjoy this series.

In the third and final book in this series, Earth and the Tenth Planet are locked in a battle for survival. Badly damaged and knowing that they are faced with extinction unless they can harvest most of Earth's resources, the Malmurians turn to their distant past and the spirits of their Elders to find weapons to subdue Earth. Meanwhile, the elite of Earth's scientists work frantically to develop new weapons in their fight against the alien menace.

If you enjoyed this series then you will probably like the Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglas, which is far better written.

The whole novel is one climax.......2000-12-17

I must admit after the second novel of this trilogy I was slightly disappointed because it did not have an ending and it was too obvious that the editors wanted to make money because they knew readers had been hooked by the story so far. I still think that books two and three should be one book really. But the editors do not get stars (they would not get any star for their lousy selling policy!) But what a recompense! This book is one of the most exciting reads of science fiction I have ever read. It is breathtaking, full of nerveracking suspense, and you do not lay it down once you have started reading. The characters are well chosen, their motivations and actions very credible. Even the aliens do no longer appear as technically superior but a little stupid nevertheless. The authors give them a soul and more "humanity". In this way a kind of tragedy can develop. The two races will never be able to be on friendly terms with each other, for technical reasons and because of their conflicting struggles for survival. So the ending is not the common and triumphant "We have won!", but "What will be?" with a reflective sadness. A perfect book!

One piece of advice: If you want to read this book, make sure you read it after the two first ones. You will lose a lot if you do not read them in their numeric order.

The Tenth Planet: Final Assault, #3
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The Tenth Planet: Final Assault, #3
Dean Wesley / Rusch, Kristine Kathryn Smith
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVXAWK

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn'T, and Why
Average customer rating:

The human side of a divine undertaking

Between the lines

Some intriguing information, much misunderstanding

an excellent resource for any student of hagiography

Good Source on Cause for Blessed Katharine Drexel

Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn'T, and Why
Kenneth L. Woodward
Manufacturer: Touchstone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Roman Catholicism | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Saints | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam

Brief History of Saints (Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion)

The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity (The Haskell Lectures on History of Religions)

Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology

Sacred Biography: Saints and Their Biographers in the Middle Ages

ASIN: 0671747436

Book Description

From inside the Vatican, the book that became a modern classic on sainthood in the Catholic Church.

Working from church documents, Kenneth Woodward shows how saint-makers decide who is worthy of the church's highest honor. He describes the investigations into lives of candidates, explains how claims for miracles are approved or rejected, and reveals the role politics -- papal and secular -- plays in the ultimate decision. From his examination of such controversial candidates as Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador and Edith Stein, a Jewish philosopher who became a nun and was gassed at Auschwitz, to his insights into the changes Pope John Paul II has instituted, Woodward opens the door on a 2,000-year-old tradition.

Customer Reviews:

The human side of a divine undertaking.......2004-09-04

In "Making Saints," Kenneth Woodward lifts the veil on what to many is the mysterious process of determining who will (and who will not) be declared a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. For the extremely pious, the idea of human meddling in the saint-making process is sacrilegious. But Woodward explores the touchy area where devoted laborers for the Church, through their human work, manage to operate hand in hand with Divinity. "Making Saints" is not an exposé of the Vatican's machinery for canonization, but it does show how the Church's current institutional needs and prejudices strongly shape the choices of the causes under consideration.

Who will become a saint? In short, it is the person of great sanctity whose example happens to be deemed important by the reigning Pope and other high leaders of the Church. If the Church needs to highlight the sanctity of married life, it searches for married couples whose sanctity could inspire the faithful. Sometimes, this effort is comic, as the Church, trying to move forward, trips over its own past priorities. For instance, the married couple chosen by the Church as an exemplar of sanctified married life are Louis and Azélie Martin, all of whose surviving children entered convents, and one of whom, Thérèse of Lisieux, became a saint. In choosing the Martins as candidates for sainthood, the Church did not stray far from its discomfort with sex, except perhaps as a means of producing priests and nuns.

Obvious candidates like Archbishop Oscar Romero -- whose opposition to rightwing government-sanctioned death squads in El Salvador earned him a rifle bullet in the chest -- is not likely to be considered a saint soon. His gospel-like opposition to temporal power, his siding with the poor, his martyr's death, the devotion to him by ordinary people and even indications of physical incorruption ought to make him a shoo-in for sainthood. But to the saint makers, Romero is still too "political" to be canonized or even beatified. The upper levels of the Church are still nervous about those whose activities affect the lives of masses of people, opening the Church to charges of being in league with activists, communists and other undesirables. And so Romero awaits official notice of his canonization, regardless of his actual status in the heavenly court.

"Making Saints" is a book that opened my eyes to the truth that there are still saints among us, people whose devotion to God and neighbor is heroic, extraordinary and exemplary. The book also made it clear that the Church (probably rightly) moves very carefully when declaring sainthood for all but the most innocuous of the holy. The Church has many constituencies and cannot afford to win some while losing others. So for every John XXIII pushed forward by liberalizers, there is a Pius XII put forward by conservatives. "Making Saints" gives fascinating insights into how the ecclesiastical, scientific and political arms of the Vatican work together to determine the who, why and when of canonization and beatification--incredibly, doing the work of God in the process.

Between the lines.......2000-10-05

One thought kept going through my mind while reading this book. Throughout the centuries, God continues to reach out to us, even physically. The four Gospels tell us that Jesus is not simply a God-teacher. He is a God of words and works. He physically fed people and raised the dead and healed the sick. He got his hands dirty, literally, to cure the blind. The miracles of the saints are simply God working through His people to reach out and touch the rest of us. The saints are pointing us to God and leading us to God and connecting us to God and to each other. Mr. Woodward has done a deeply personal job pointing out that there are necessary procedures to determine the validity of claims of miracles. To merely accept all claims of miracles would be a disservice to the candidate (I love the formal term used in the candidacy procedure, Servant of God) and to the Church at large. One point which I wish Mr. Woodward had covered is the process (if any) by which it is determined that the intercession of a particular saint is responsible for a particular miracle. For example, one family may be praying for the intercession of Padre Pio for a particular cause, and another person may be praying for the intercession of St. Katherine Drexel for the same cause, and so on. How is it determined which saint's intercession is responsible in the event of a cure? If the mark of a good writer is to leave the reader wanting more, Mr. Woodward has succeeded.

Some intriguing information, much misunderstanding.......2000-09-29

Especially in the current climate, where more people are canonised in a year than were in the previous century, the interesting background of the process, and how it has changed in recent decades, is quite interesting.

Unfortunately, the writer has far more understanding of the "legal process" in this area than any of either popular devotion or very obvious reasons why one candidate may be favoured over another. For example, devotion to saints, amongst the general population, often is not at all based on identifying with the total circumstances of the saint's life, but with a particular aspect. The author devotes much time to the lack of being "uninhibited" in bed which would supposedly keep married couples from identifying with Louis and Zelie Martin (whose marriage began rather oddly largely because both had longed for religious life). Aside from that one wonders how he would have known such details, that such are seldom mentioned in polite company much less in archives, and that a couple who had nine children must have not spent all of their time in chapel, it would be ridiculous to think that those devoted to the pair would have sexual inhibitions or a negative attitude as a result. The people I've encountered who wish to see Louis and Zelie canonised are generally those who envy that the Martins had five children who gave their lives to the Church... rather than two who want no part of church at all.

Part of what marks one for beatification is a continued devotion. Heavens, if two women, both saintly, lived in the same period, and one was the foundress of a religious order, the other a local parent, the fact that the cause of the former would be more likely to endure is simply practical. Mother Foundress would have been well known, because her Sisters would have told her story to all whom they served for generations afterward, would have published books about her life, and would have scattered descriptive holy cards far and wide. (Not to mention that the Order later would have financed the canonisation research.) The mother of a family would have been unlikely to be well known, and her kids may have found the stress of living with a saint rather strong ... her memory may die out with her grandchildren. It is not an indication that marriage is not holy.

Read with discretion. The political correctness and catering to popular misconceptions can obscure much. The political and legal aspects are nonetheless interesting reading.

an excellent resource for any student of hagiography.......1999-10-13

Basically, this book is totally rad. It not only provides a solid historical basis for understanding the evolution of hagiography, but also details Woodward's in-depth conversations with the movers and shakers in the Saint-Making World today. This really helps to make a connection between the past and present in this fascinating book.

Good Source on Cause for Blessed Katharine Drexel.......1998-04-02

Many people ask about the steps and the history for Philadelphia's Blessed Katharine Drexel becoming a saint before 2000. This book, in part, offers a great insight into her cause.

MAKING SAINTS, HOW THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DETERMINES WHO BECOMES A SAINT, WHO DOESN'T AND WHY

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MAKING SAINTS, HOW THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DETERMINES WHO BECOMES A SAINT, WHO DOESN'T AND WHY
Kenneth L Woodward
Manufacturer: Touchstone Books / Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N8TX0C

Average customer rating:

Making Saints, How The Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes A Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why
Kenneth Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H5ATYU

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