Saints: A Very Short Introduction

Saints: A Very Short Introduction looks at the origins, ideas, and definitions of sainthood, sanctity, and saints in the early Church, tracing their development in history and explaining the social roles saints played in the ancient, medieval, and modern worlds. It considers the treatment of saints as objects of literary and artistic expression and interpretation, and as examples of idealised male and female heroism, comparing Christian saints and holy figures to venerated figures in other religious cultures, including Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. It concludes by considering the experiences of devotees to saints, and looking at how saints continue to be a powerful presence in our modern world.