Here, together in a single volume, are the two biographies that many critics consider both Chesterton's best, and the best short portraits ever written of these two great saints. St. Francis of Assisi is a profoundly Catholic work, explaining and illuminating the life of St. Francis in a way no other biography has. The spiritual kinship the author felt with his subject enables the reader to delve into insights on the character of Francis that have eluded many.

Being lazy by temperament and not wanting to read the original, I have been seeking an account of the life and beliefs of Thomas Aquinas. I had read glowing reviews of this book but was quickly disenchanted. That Thomas Aquinas stands as a giant of Catholic doctrine is beyond dispute. Known for his silent contemplation and obduracy in his doctrine – hence the dumb ox, Thomas Aquinas is credited for declaring reason and faith not incompatible and equally useful in religious beliefs. Unfortunately, I did not get much from this book however much I compelled myself to trudge on. In my opinion, it felt more like a soliloquy – given the arcane imagery used, the unfamiliar feelings depicted, the implicit a prioris, and opaque writing – than an account that I could get something from. On Thomas Aquinas, I am still looking. ( )