Through the eyes of Ricca di Montanaro, a willful young woman madly in love with the pleasure-seeking Francis Bernadone, we watch his transformation from a playboy into the famous Saint Francis of Assissi. With Ricca, we follow Francis to the besieged city of Damietta on the Nile, where he goes to seek an end to the war between Moslems and Christians. She is witness to his encounter with the all-powerful sultan of Egypt and Syria. She lives through the destruction of Damietta--an experience that blinds Francis and awakens Ricca to a far deeper sense of her love for the saint and indeed for the world around her.

From the reviews:

"May be his finest novel ... unsurpassed at recreating the human beings in the orbit of Saint Francis and the places where the great events of his life occurred."

Publishers Weekly

"Filled with color and rich historical detail, the volume is proof that history and biography need not be stultifying."

The Chattanooga Times

"The reader will be rewarded with adventure so colorful that you don't need TV to picture medieval life at its best and worst."

Los Angeles Times

"Like a skillful weaver choosing strands of varying brilliance and hue, Scott O'Dell blends several themes into one strong narrative. He peoples it with unforgettable characters."

Provident Book Finder

"A very well-written, consistent story with a fine sense of geographic and cultural setting, the characters are full and interesting."

Voya