Saint James the Greater in History, Art and Culture - by William Farina (Paperback)

About the Book

"Among the 12 disciples of Jesus, perhaps none has inspired more magnificent art--as well as political upheaval--than Saint James the Greater. He was the first apostle to be martyred. He remains the patron saint of pilgrims to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. His legacy has bequeathed a tradition of Western art over nearly two millennia"--

Book Synopsis

Among the 12 disciples of Jesus, perhaps none has inspired more magnificent art--as well as political upheaval--than Saint James the Greater. Portrayed in the New Testament as part of Jesus' inner circle, he was the first apostle to be martyred. Eight centuries later, Saint James, or Santiago, became the de facto patron saint of Spain, believed to be a supernatural warrior who led the victorious Christian armies during the Iberian Reconquista. After 1492, the Santiago cult found its way to the New World, where it continued to exert influence. Today, he remains the patron saint of pilgrims to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. His legacy has bequeathed a magnificent tradition of Western art over nearly two millennia.

Review Quotes

"Extraordinary...very highly recommended"--Midwest Book Review; "Impressively informative and exceptionally well written, organized and presented...is an extraordinary contribution to Christian History...very highly recommended."--Cengage Learning & Gale Book Review Index.

About the Author

William Farina is a retired real estate consultant for the federal government, now living in Evanston, Illinois. He has written books on Arthurian legend, early Christianity, the American Civil War, Shakespeare and baseball.