Setting the World on Fire: The Brief, Astonishing Life of St. Catherine of Siena by Shelley Emling: A Book Review
Setting the World on Fire: The Brief, Astonishing Life of St. Catherine of Siena Author: Shelley Emling Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Religion Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Release Date: April 5, 2016 Pages: 256 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: One of only two patron saints of Italy, the other being St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine was ahead of her time. As a political powerhouse in late 14th century Europe, a time of war, social unrest and one of the worst natural disasters of all time--the plague, she worked for peace between Christians while campaigning for a holy crusade against Muslims. She was illiterate but grew into a great writer by dictating to assistants. She was frail and punished herself mercilessly, often starving herself, while offering moral guidance and inspiration to kings, queens and popes. It's easy to see why feminists through the years have sought to claim the patronage of St. Cather...