This popular translation of The Story of a Soul includes every word of the original text, retaining the charm of the landmark autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. This accessible and engaging translation captures the vibrant spirit of the young woman who desired nothing more than to be a humble flower that would gladden God's eyes.
St. Therese''s story of her life was first published soon after her death in 1897 at the age of twenty-four. Combining delightful descriptions of family and community life with a sense of humor and intense devotion to God, it was an instant bestseller. Charming descriptions of her family, and accounts of her foibles, sense of humor, radical honesty, and intense devotion to God made the book an instant bestseller.
The most popular saint of the first half of the twentieth century, St. Therese of Lisieux-"the Little Flower"-was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope Saint John Paul II. Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, has sold millions of copies in many languages all over the world. Her simple approach to spirituality, which meant doing even the most mundane tasks with great love and joy, has inspired millions of people worldwide.
While some editions exclude passages and refine her use of the French dialect often spoken by peasants, this edition of The Story of a Soul provides:
- A complete and unabridged translation of the 1920s edition published by the Carmel of Lisieux.
- A beautifully designed interior, with a larger font size for easier reading.
- A fresh, lively, non-technical translation, newly updated, that will appeal to a wide readership.
Industry Reviews
Canonized in 1925, Therese of Lisieux was declared a doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997. Her "little way" of living her religious life has appealed to many people since she described it in her autobiography, which she wrote at the request of her superiors. Having entered the Carmelite monastery in 1888 at the unusually young age of 14, she died in 1897 from tuberculosis. The appeal of her autobiography comes from the very simple, disingenuous way she writes, relating her life story and her religious experience with the utmost candor. In a smooth translation from the French original, Edmonson (translator, Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God) eschews footnotes and adds clarifying phrases, set off by brackets, to the text itself. Those seeking a more scholarly footnoted English edition will still want to use John Clarke's translation (ICS Pub., 1976), which also includes photographs. Those seeking a popular biography should consider Kathryn Harrison's Saint Therese of Lisieux in the "Penguin Lives" series.
Recommended for most collections.
Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ Library Journal March 15, 2006