Anselm - The Joy of Faith

Scholars recognize Anselm as the most influential Christian intellectual between Augustine and Aquinas. William Shannon highlights the prodigious writings and provides biography and commentary about the life, prayers, and teachings of the 11th century spiritual genius who transformed Western piety forever.

We meet the innovative theologian who became Archbishop of Canterbury and was twice exiled by the crown for political reasons. We learn that many of his theological teachings presaged Aquinas ("faith seeking understanding") and even Descartes ("God is greater than that which can be thought"). And we discover a literary giant who was the first to break with custom and write heartfelt prayers that weren't based on liturgical forms. Anselm and his writings come alive in this fascinating book.