Francis. The first Italian

This essay explores the figure of Francis of Assisi as a pillar of Italian cultural identity.

The author examines how the saint shaped the national tradition through the Canticle of the Creatures, the first masterpiece of Italian literature, and through symbolic acts such as the invention of the nativity scene.

The book retraces Francis's extraordinary journey: from a youth marked by chivalric ideals to his break with his family, from material renunciation to his encounter with the Church, and finally to the mystery of the stigmata.

An investigation revealing how Francis embodies the noblest values of the Italian soul: compassion for others, respect for creation, humility, and the joy of living.

HarperCollins Editions