Saint Julian: A Novel [Hardcover]

Walter Wangerin Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 2003

A stunning spiritual tale about the life of the legendary Saint Julian, who as a cruel hunter in his youth is doomed to a tragic fate, but only through a lifelong learning to performs acts of charity and kindness does he find redemption in his encounter with Christ himself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

National Book Award-winning author Wangerin (The Book of Dun Cow) retells the story of St. Julian the Hospitaller, patron saint of carnival workers, ferrymen, wandering musicians and other peripatetic souls. The narrator is an elderly cleric in a small parish "in the neglected center of a city of considerable size" somewhere in Europe, in some indeterminate time; the story of St. Julian once brought the cleric out of despair, and he is anxious to tell it himself for the masses, for Julian is "the Saint of them that have sinned uncommonly, whether by heart or by hand." Born in medieval Europe to a noble family, Julian has blood lust from a young age. As a teenager, he goes hunting purely for the ecstasy of the kill. One day a stag, dying at his hand, prophesies that Julian will murder his own parents. Julian flees his home in terror of the prophesy, becomes a brutal warrior and takes a wife. While he is away pillaging, his parents come to his castle. His wife receives them warmly and unwittingly offers them her bed. When Julian comes home the stag's prediction reaches its inevitable, tragic fulfillment. In his grief, Julian becomes a beggar, seeking degradation in every form and doing good works for the poor, which include building a hospice and inns. The story is beautifully written, in a style that is formal without being overly lyrical or stagily archaic. The fable-like narrative won't be for everyone, but those interested in the lives of the saints will enjoy this imaginative tale.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Best-selling author Wangerin has fashioned a mesmerizing fictional account of the life of St. Julian. Born in medieval times to noble parents, Julian, a seemingly devout lad with a sunny disposition, hides a terrible character flaw. Plagued by an unremitting lust for blood, he is drawn to the hunt and kills unmercifully. Fleeing home after a particularly brutal episode, during which he learns he is destined to kill his parents, he resolves never to return to his former life. Unable to escape his tragic fate, he unwittingly fulfills it after his parents track him down. Taking flight once again, he wanders about seeking redemption until he is offered one last and momentous chance for salvation. Full of mystical and spiritual undertones, this dark novel of depravity and deliverance casts a spell heightened by the author's ability to immerse himself--as the narrator--in the culture, the language, and the moral fabric of another time and another place. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1st edition (February 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060522526
• ISBN-13: 978-0060522520
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,024,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Starting with the renowned Book of the Dun Cow, Wangerin's writing career has encompassed most every genre: fiction, essay, short story, children's story, meditation, and biblical exposition. His writing voice is immediately recognizable, and his fans number in the millions. The author of over forty books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and several Gold Medallions, including best-fiction awards for both The Book of God and Paul: A Novel. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the Grip of Addictive Sin, December 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Saint Julian: A Novel (Hardcover)

Wangerin has done a powerful job describing the effects of sin in a life that's not totally given over to Christ. Julian typifies the believer whose belief is only through cultural heritage and not a heart change. This book chronicles the depths that sin will take us...to the end of our very self, where Christ will be waiting after we ineffectively try to deal with all our shame and self loathing. It occurs to me that the problem is addiction and the recovery process is through Christ alone. This book had the same effect on me as Frank Perreti's book "The Oath". Very convicting. Well worth the read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Medeval, Christian, and a Man, a Hunter of the forest., November 13, 2008

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Saint Julian (Paperback)

"Saint Julian", by Walter Wangerin Jr., is now 4 years old but I'm glad I came across it. It's a good fictional story of a man who would become a Saint. He is the finest hunter of all time, and becomes the greatest knight of all time, and then life takes it's toll with him. He falls into poverty, somewhat by his own design, but is Sainted because of his unfailing devotion to helping those in need, even to the very end of his breath. He bestows mercy.

The story of Saint Julian (aka: Red Knight, Ferryman) is told by a minor cleric who is being tested by his own aging but faithful in researching all he can find on the life of Julian for preservation. He learns of the curse put upon Julian, finds the facts, and records them for the reader.

Frequently, a sentence is placed in Latin, sometimes rephrased in English, sometimes not. It adds a bit of color to the telling, even if the translation is missing.

This is not a typical Medieval tale. Here's a book that should not be overlooked by male readers.

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, July 1, 2011

By 

Sparrow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saint Julian (Paperback)

This book is a little harsh; I almost didn't finish reading it, but I find it has really made me think. Talk about emptying one's self completely. I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about this book but it is one that I still remember very vividly.