Customer Reviews

The Story of a Soul (L'Histoire d'une Âme): The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux

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This is truly one of the greatest spiritual books ever written. Our Lord speaks through this Saint with such force and meaning that it shakes the soul of the reader. When our Lord allows a person to read this book, they will be pulled into a profound and deep love of God that they did not know before. Our dear Saint writes with such ease and comfort and it can very easily relate to anyone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what it means to become a "child of God."

Rev. Thomas Taylor's early 20th century translation of the memoir of St. Therese of Lisieux, unfortunately republished in 2006 by Echo Library, was made from the only manuscript then available outside her monastery, one substantially rewritten by Therese's sister Pauline, who made seven thousand changes. Scholars interested in the documents which gave rise to the cult of St. Therese may wish to consult early versions of Taylor. I urge those who want to read what Therese wrote to read the third edition of "Story of a Soul" translated by Fr. John Clarke, OCD, and published by ICS Publications in 1976. The Clarke translation, made from the unretouched manuscript written by Therese (an authentic manuscript published in French only in 1956), is recognized as the standard throughout the English-speaking world. No other translation compares to it. The book is enriched by an introduction, afterword, and easy-to-read notes that set Therese's manuscripts in the context of her life, and the index makes it even more useful. Whether you have not read "Story of a Soul" or have read only earlier English translations (Taylor, Knox, Beevers), the Clarke translation will open the world of Therese to you. Don't miss it. You'll find it at Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition

"Story of a Soul" will remain one of my favourite books for all time. The story of Therese Martin's journey to God is one which will have you alternately smiling and crying. To read of the depth of spirituality in this woman is to be deeply moved. "Story of a Soul" is both simplistic yet profound; it is an answer to the cynicism and searching of our times and the realization that indeed all things "...count as nothing without love."

Therese Martin . . . now "Saint Therese of Lisieux . . . Saint Therese of The Child Jesus and The Holy Face . . . "The Little Flower" . . . declared by the late Pope john Paul II to be a "Doctor Of The Church", that is, one who teaches reliably the theology and spirituality of the Church . . . one who's words can be trusted and relied upon as leading us to God and not astray . . . one who teaches with "the mind of the Church".

And yet, Therese entered a cloistered Carmelite Monastery at age 15 . . .and died of tuberculosis at age 24 within those cloister walls. . . but her spirit reached out beyond her "time and place" to bring the grace of God to millions . . . and she STILL makes herself present to us and one of the tools which she uses are her written words.

We find her words published today in her poems, and in her letters . . . and in a most significant presentation in this manuscript: "The Story Of A Soul" -- the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. Therese did not write this to "be' her autobiography . . and it was not written as "one work", but rather was written by her under a directive from Her Prioresses . . . and it was written under much hardship and ddifficulties as she battled an onslaught of tuberculosis . . . a disease which eventually and agonizingly claimed her life.

In her words we discover a true joy: the joy of Therese discovering her true and real vocation. She didn't want to just speak about or teach about but rather she knew that she was "to be" LOVE in the heart of the Church. And this epiphany sums up her entire autobiography and her life's purpose.


She wanted to find a "little way" to God . . . a way where even a child (and especially a child" could enter into God's presence. That "little way" was to become "small" one's self so that Jesus (God) could simply lift one up to Himself rather than struggling on a lugubrious and complex spiritual program of spiritual excercises. As a child trusts and loves . . so to "we".

She simply understood the "two great commandments" Jesus gave: Love God and the second, like the first: Love Your neighbor.

If you want to find a "friend" to walk with you on your spiritual pilgrimage through this life, read "The Story Of A Soul" and meet Saint Therese . . . and invite her to accompany you . . . and she will join you. Listen to her voice as you read this book of her words (and then read her letters, her poems, her "last sayings") . . . Therese will become a companion and a teacher and a friend for the rest of your life in THIS world . . . and in the next.

Therese wrote the story of HER soul . . . and in so doing she wrote the story of OUR souls . . . You will recognize your own hopes and dreams . . . your worries and fears . . and even doubts (Therese speaks of her own scary doubts and tempatations to despair and even suicide) . . . and yet she triumphed to the end . . . as we all must and can.

Don't pas up this book. If you read it years ago, read it again and again . . . if you never read it, do it! You will be glad you did . . . and you will be glad you met Therese Martin. :)

(p.s. There are several translations available of this book . . i like this one by John Clarke as he used original manuscrips and returned them to their original order and sequence. However, i encourage you to read ANY translation you might obtain.)

I can never say enough about this little book. Please do yourself a favor and read it. It will change you, challenge you and teach you. Buy it. You will never regret it.

This book itself is excellent. It is precisely the edition I expected when I placed my order. The description from the vendor was complete and accurate. Since this book occurs in more than one important edition, it was essential that the seller describe the specimen accurately. The seller provided a concise but sufficiently comprehensive description that was accurate not only with respect to the actual edition, but also with respect to the condition. The book was described to be in "used, but like new" condition. I would say that the book looked like I myself had purchased it brand new many years ago then left it barely touched on an otherwise active bookshelf. The book showed some slight discoloration of the pages - not nearly enough to reduce the readability of the text, and some very slight mild scratches to the cover. I have seen significantly worse offered for sale as a new book in respectable bookstores. The text is an excellent translation from the original letters and chapters written by Saint Therese. I highly recommend this text, and I recommend doing business with the seller from whom I purchased the book. As for the appeal of the text, I suspect it would be a satisfying read for anyone who is interested in how people find satisfaction in life. I would not want to live the life that was lived by Therese of Lisieux, but I am grateful for her example of one good way to live a worthwhile life.

This is a great book for personal quiet searching for self improvement led by example on every page!

This young woman shows us the way that simple everyday people can be saint like. We can't all do the grand things that famous people do but we can live our everyday lives with the example of Jesus always before us. We can remember He is always with us and it does matter about the choices we ordinary people make. Our prayers and dedications can change the world.
Accepting humilations and wrong accusations in silience and offering them up to God as Jesus did. We are worthy only because God loves us.I know this sounds preachie and if I saw you face to face I would have trouble expressing this. It is from my heart and it has helped me be a better person.
I wish you life changing reading ahead. It does matter what we allow into our minds.

I borrowed this book from a Catholic friend who, in turn, borrowed it from his brother who is currently studying to become a priest.
I was curious to know the reason why this autobiography has changed the life of many people; furthermore, I had heard that it was Therese's desire to become a priest and I was intrigued.
I think the reader should know the theological position from which I evaluated this book: I am an evangelical holding to the inerrancy and absolute authority of Scriptures, and a former Catholic; so, obviously, my opinion will be different from most other people who reviewed this book.
I found the first part of the book, which is mainly descriptive, boring and, in some instances, blasphemous and arrogant.
Blasphemous because Mary is often depicted as the queen of heaven and as important as the Lord Jesus, and arrogant when Therese states that the countless things a wife does for her mortal husband are not comparable to what she does for the Lord Jesus, her spiritual husband; she completely ignores that biblical characters like Deborah, a prophetess and a judge in Israel, to whom we all are spiritual toddlers compared to, was married.
Also, she described her ordination as a sacrifice, and I think this is very sad.
The second part of the book is a letter to the Reverend Mother and I found it much more interesting and theological.
Even though I am shocked that some people dared comparing this book to the Gospels, I greatly appreciate that she really tried to follow a spiritual path all the way trough, even though I certainly not agree with some of her believes.
The last part is a letter to Marie, her sister and fellow Carmelite nun.
I can honestly say that the last chapter is the only one that touched me.
Therese writes that one of her greatest desires was to be a priest, hold the holy bread in her hands and comment the Gospel.
Unfortunately, Therese's desire was never fulfilled, not because of a personal choice, but because she was a woman.
She tried to ignore her immense desire by saying that a man would have done this duty instead, while she would continue to perfect her path of love.
I believe that the two things are not mutually exclusive; Therese could have been a good priest in the Catholic church, without renouncing to follow her path of love.