Peter Clenott

The famous novelist Louis de Wohl presents a stimulating historical novel about the great St. Thomas Aquinas, set against the violent background of the Italy of the Crusades. He tells the intriguing story of St. Thomas who—by taking a vow of poverty and joining the Dominicans—defied his illustrious, prominent family’s ambition for him to have great power in the Church. The battles and Crusades of the 13th century and the ruthlessness of the excommunicated Emperor Frederick II play a big part in the story, but it is Thomas of Aquino who dominates this book. De Wohl succeeds notably in portraying the exceptional quality of this man, a fusion of mighty intellect and childlike simplicity. A pupil of St. Albert the Great, the humble Thomas—through an intense life of study, writing, prayer, preaching and contemplation—ironically rose to become the influential figure of his age, and he later was proclaimed by the Church as the Angelic Doctor. As in all of his novels about great saints of the church, Louis de Wohl weaves an intricate colorful tapestry of love, violence and piety to bring to life a tremendous historical figure and the fascinating period in which he lived. Louis de Wohl was a distinguished and internationally respected Catholic writer whose books on saints have been best-sellers worldwide. Other available titles include Lay Siege to Heaven, Set All Afire and Citadel of God. Sixteen of his books were made into films.