Product Description

The preeminent resource guide for more than twenty years, this one-of-a-kind book, now available in paperback, has been updated to include those recently canonized and beatified.

Since its original publication in 1980, John J. Delaney’s Dictionary of Saints (more than 200,000 copies sold) has become the leading reference book for the scholar and general reader alike. With more than five thousand biographies of the saints—from the well known to the obscure—this new edition brings to life the inspiring accomplishments of these men and women of God. The martyrs and the monks, the mystics and the virgins, the doctors and the peasants are all contained in this essential volume. To know the saints, how they thrived in their achievements, how they lived in destitution, is to meet a fascinating company of people whose actions have influenced and enriched the history of the world.

Reset in an easy-to use-format, it contains substantial listings for the more popular saints, and thumbnail sketches for those less well known. From Aaron to Zosimus, this modern dictionary has been updated with the entries for the newly canonized, including Italian mystic Padre Pio, Mexican Nahuatl Juan Diego, Polish Franciscan Maximilian Kolbe, and Americans Katharine Drexel and Rose Philippine Duchesne. It also contains a complete listing of feast days, an index of patron saints, and several other useful appendixes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #189095 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-15
• Released on: 2005-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 720 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385515207
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
“A valuable reference book which ought to find a place in every Catholic publication office.”—Catholic Journalist
“A masterful compendium which proves that it is possible to be both scholarly and popular.”—U.S. Catholic
“It is remarkable how the most significant facts are recorded here, even those of a legendary character. This makes the volume ideal for ready reference.”—National Catholic Register
“Dictionary of Saints has used all the latest critical investigations into the lives of the saints….We have here a fascinating company of men and women who devoted their lives to Christ in widely varied ways…not only a careful and thoughtful presentation of all the saints you would want to know about, but it is delightful reading to dip into.”—America
“The author is careful to separate legend from history, but includes as legend most of the popular stories about the saints….A “dictionary of saints” is a sine qua non of a church library’s reference collection. This one suits the purpose admirably [and] is heartily recommended to the pious amateur.”—Church & Synagogue Libraries
“Comprehensive...abounds with interesting tidbits.”—Christianity Today
“This readable, up-to-date one-volume compendium…gives more about the saints than similar dictionaries.”—Library Journal
“As a reference and resource book this volume contains all the saints the ordinary person will ever seek information about...no matter where you start reading in it, it is interesting and hard to put down. That’s a compliment to both the saints and the author of the book.”—Spiritual Book News

From the Back Cover

“A valuable reference book which ought to find a place in every Catholic publication office.”—Catholic Journalist
“A masterful compendium which proves that it is possible to be both scholarly and popular.”—U.S. Catholic
“It is remarkable how the most significant facts are recorded here, even those of a legendary character. This makes the volume ideal for ready reference.”—National Catholic Register
“Dictionary of Saints has used all the latest critical investigations into the lives of the saints….We have here a fascinating company of men and women who devoted their lives to Christ in widely varied ways…not only a careful and thoughtful presentation of all the saints you would want to know about, but it is delightful reading to dip into.”—America
“The author is careful to separate legend from history, but includes as legend most of the popular stories about the saints….A “dictionary of saints” is a sine qua non of a church library’s reference collection. This one suits the purpose admirably [and] is heartily recommended to the pious amateur.”—Church & Synagogue Libraries
“Comprehensive...abounds with interesting tidbits.”—Christianity Today
“This readable, up-to-date one-volume compendium…gives more about the saints than similar dictionaries.”—Library Journal
“As a reference and resource book this volume contains all the saints the ordinary person will ever seek information about...no matter where you start reading in it, it is interesting and hard to put down. That’s a compliment to both the saints and the author of the book.”—Spiritual Book News

About the Author
JOHN J. DELANEY, the former director of Doubleday Religious Publishing and founder of Image Books, was an active figure in the world of religious publishing for more than forty years. He also authored A Woman Clothed with the Sun, and translated The Practice of the Presence of God. ARTHUR JONES is currently an editor at large at the National Catholic Reporter, and has previously worked at Forbes and the Financial Times (London). He is the author of several books, including the forthcoming Pierre Toussaint.

Customer Reviews

A rush job??
In many ways, this is a very good dictionary. Lots and lots of saints, with average entries of c. 20-25 lines per saint. This dictionary doesn't have more errors than the average saints' guide, and less than some. (Farmer's Oxford Dictionary of Saints has the most scholarly and thorough coverage, but fewest saints; the Benedictines of Ramsgate's The Book of Saints has an enormous number of saints but with very brief entries AND NO INDEX LISTING SAINTS BY THEIR FEAST DAY.) What is truly annoying about Delaney's volume is the listing of saints by feast day---which is really the shoddiest thing I've seen in ages. There are dozens and dozens of errors, ranging from wrong date to listing the saint by a variant of name that doesn't actually appear in the text. It's very frustrating to use.

Good Reference Book
Like a dictionary or encyclopedia, has a short paragraph about each of the Saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Also contains a calendar listing of the saint's day. Very basic descriptions

Dictionary of Saints
This book has a solid listing of all the saints, most of whom I've never heard of. There are several saints with the same name which is confusing to the novice, but the details are informative and help keep things in order. Obviously a lot of effort went into researching this book and for that the author is to be commended.