Reading picrel currently. This might be one of the best biographies I’ve ever read. The style is smooth and sometimes funny, it’s not too technical, but doesn’t shy away from the philosophical aspects. Very interesting and worth reading.Has anyone else read this?After this I want to read Chesterton’s biography on st. Francis.
Read St Francis bio after a rec here, enjoyed it. He will take an episode from his life, then use that as a springboard essentially for discursive meditation. So not really a bio but a good read.
It’s well written but Chesterton is talking out of his ass. He hardly knew medieval philosophy, it’s a vibe biography. I don’t know the medievals well either but this is what a professor told me. I think the real story you would find by reading the Arabs and scholastics for yourself would be even better but it would take years.
>>25273475You’re right about that. I’ve read another biography about st. Thomas by josef Pieper (who is a philosopher) and it wasn’t bad, but it was very short and mostly talked about how Aristotle came to Europe and in which translations and so on. I think I prefer Chestertons over that one.
I read his biography of St. Francis. Like the other anon said, Chesterton isn't really giving a straight and grounded biography, there is certainly a bit of straight bullshit, but on the other hand it is an absolutely amazing book which is like a narrativization of European history told through the lens of Francis. And his writing in general is amazing. I love his essay 'a piece of chalk' as well as pretty much everything I've read by him.
>>25272922Thank you anon, from the bottom of my heart.I haven't read it... I was always discouraged by the erudition, passion, and stamina of St. Thomas Aquinas... his figure is so towering that him being a biography never entered my imagination.... hearing from you that there is a biography of him (and by G K Chesterton of all people!) makes me immensely grateful. For me, finding such a book equals finding some treasure I've been looking for all my life.Once again: thank you for sharing, Anon; posting such things can save lives.>Etienne Gilson, the 20th century's foremost authority on Aquinas, has said of this work, "I consider it as being without possible exception the best book ever written on Saint Thomas. Nothing short of genius can account for such an achievement."
>being a biographyhaving a biography
>>25274999I hope you can enjoy it then.May god bless you, anon.
>>25275012You too anon.
>>25272922>After this I want to read Chesterton’s biography on st. Francis.i found pic rel recentlyit's really comfy, maybe you'll enjoy it too if you need a break, maybe some grounding (it has a lot of archaeology), but don't want to venture outside the Word
>>25272922I'm more than half-way through (just arrived at chapter 6) and I think it's a bit confusing to call it a "biography." It's a book on Saint Thomas Aquinas... it's not a biography in the modern sense. Because of this I was very disappointed for the first two chapters, but once you get accustomed to the style, it's very rewarding.>After this I want to read Chesterton’s biography on st. Francis.Me too. Reading these books feel like a short vacation. Very graceful, very refreshing. Chesterton is a great friend.
