Julien Green Books

Dr. Saussure's article is of interest because it is a wartime psychoanalysis of Adolf Hitler. This 64 page article, entitled "L'Inconnu Chez Hitler", analyzea Hitler's sexual and neurotic tendenciess based on available medical and biographical information. Noted novelist, Julien Green, looks poignantly back on his early days in Passy in "Quand Nous Sommes Emsemble." Pieces by Maritain, Saint Jean and Malaquais round out this fine collection.

This is an unique book even among the many written about Paris. The late Julian Green was the only American member of the Academie de France --- and he wrote these exquisite, tender memoirs of Paris in French. The books lays out the French text face-to-face with the superlative English transation [is it possible that the translator is Green himself using a nom-de-plume?] --- this slender volume will repay you with many many joyous moments, particularly if you read French. Not only is it a superlative book on Paris, it is a superlative gem of lyrical writing.

This book is full of symbolism. For example Francis's struggle with his father, his disrobing in front of the Bishop and the Bishop covering him with his own cloak indicates that Francis had a new home, he was accepted by the Church. When his biological father chained him his earthly mother Pica set him free. This leads us to the thought that Mary can set us free from the sins that are our earthly chains. This is a book that is both an easy read yet a thoughful read. I recommend it highly.

I just recieved this book and have looked forward to reading it. To my dismay, the print is much smaller than usual and difficult to read without eye strain. I find I can only read a couple of pages at a time.

Green's account grows out of lifelong admiration for Francis, but for him no tribute can be better than bare truth. This life and times paints the whole social scene in which St. Francis moved. It gives Francis's quirks of personality equal treatment with his breathtaking heights of spirit. We see how the saint formed his network of supporters or patrons, and the deals he had to make along the way. When he, but not most of his followers received permission to preach, we see Francis admonishing his followers, "You don't know God's will. ... You say the bishops won't let you preach. Then convert those prelates by your obedience ... and they themselves will ask you to convert the people". (p. 197-98)

In Green's account we see the choices Francis made, his estimates of what was possible or not, and his tactics which formed one of the most revealing social experiments in Christian history.

I'd like to add my five-star vote for this wonderful little work. After reading it I'm convinced St Francis had a difficult life but despite the difficulty (maybe because of it) he persevered and kept obstinately optimistic and decent. He was cheerful because he gave himself to God, not because God gave him so much to be cheerful about. I could understand why he is so beloved, even though he gave us a tough example to follow. The prose is beautiful and the optimism is encouraging.

This book is sometimes a bit too reverent for its own good. Julien Green is a Catholic and his attitude is understandable, but a more impartial approach would have made God's Fool, a great book as it is, even better. In spite of that, this is a heartfelt and beautifully written accound of Francis of Assisi's life and times. The writer is clearly in awe of Francis, but his analysis of the Saint's attitudes, motivations and contradictions help you understand this fascinating figure and make him more human and accessible to the contemporary reader. Special note must be made of the beautifully poetic prose and of the way the author deals with the uglier aspects of Francis's life, which are sometimes glossed over in other biographies. Despite its flaws, this is a wonderful book on an extraordinary individual.

Paints a picture rather than lists his accomplishments. This book gives you the flavour of the time that Saint Francis grew in. A lot of books just gives you snapshots, this book goes into as much detail as the references will allow. It shows just how saints are meant to be seen; as devout people whom God decides to work through.

Up front, I disclose that I am neither a historian nor Catholic and offer these comments as someone who simply read the book. Green, an early convert to Catholicism, offers a simple rendition of the life of Francis. The book is well-crafted; easy to read and to keep reading. There is enough of the history surrounding the subject to position it in time and place, but the reader is not bogged down in the details. There is no offer of defense for the miraculous events attributed to Francis. Rather, Green simply describes them as matter-of-factly as he does the Italian contryside.

Francis was as a young man over-indulged in its pleasures, but suddenly did an aboutface and spent the rest of his life serving God and attemping to remove ANYTHING from his life that might distract him from that service.

The example of single-minded determination that Francis lived serves us all well. Were we to apply the same energy to our own pursuits, who know what may be accomplished.

An inspiration to us all.

It must have been hell in the late 1910's, early 1920's, to finally admit, in one's early twenties, that one is gay. (Well, it's still not that easy now for all too many people.)

This is the autobiography of a very sensitive young man who found himself transplanted from France to live in the Southern US and attend the University of Virginia. (Quelle shock!) I found it an interesting and heartwarming insight on living in the South as well as coming to terms with being gay...and even falling in love.

What a terrible book - I kept with it, praying that it would get better, and it was just a frustrating slog. Elizabeth is just a spoiled little idiot, and there's no point to any of the suffering that takes place because of her selfishness. Don't waste your time.