Review by Fr. Dan Lackie, ofm

A good prose companion to Levertov’s poetic “performance”, this short biographical study of St. Francis attempts to “reach up to his vision of how to lead the gospel life.” The fact that it does so in such a refreshing way is a tribute to the skill and devotion Cunningham brings to the narrative craft. The fruit of many decades of scholarship in the area of Christian spirituality the book is not just accessible and concise but a pleasure to read. The author unfolds the story with great care and insight and one could even say with an appropriate humility, as the reader is reminded throughout that this telling is situated within a long tradition of Franciscan scholarship.