The Lion and the Saint - by Laura E Wolfe (Paperback)

About the Book

"Many centuries ago in the wilds of Africa, a startling and mystical friendship developed between a lion and a saint. St. Gerasim served the lion by removing a thorn from its paw, and in turn the lion served St. Gerasim and his monastery for the rest of his life. This small gem of a story shows us this extraordinary friendship through the eyes of the lion, and of a baboon he befriends along the way, allowing us to participate in the lion's transformation-through contact with holiness-from an undifferentiated dumb beast to a particular lion with his own name and destiny"--

Book Synopsis

Many centuries ago in the wilds of Africa, a startling and mystical friendship developed between a lion and a saint. St. Gerasim served the lion by removing a thorn from its paw, and in turn the lion served St. Gerasim and his monastery for the rest of his life. This small gem of a story shows us this extraordinary friendship through the eyes of the lion, and of a baboon he befriends along the way, allowing us to participate in the lion's transformation-through contact with holiness-from an undifferentiated dumb beast to a particular lion with his own name and destiny.



The Lion and the Saint may be enjoyed by good readers from preteen to adult.

An Orthodox Christian young adult book from Ancient Faith Publishing.

Review Quotes

This novella is beautiful! Honestly, I thought it would be another solid YA chapter book for my kids, and then I opened it and could not put it down. It's beautiful, and it's not just for kids. Wolfe writes poetically and powerfully, from the perspective of the animals. It's gorgeous, and unforgettable. What a brilliant way to tell this story!

-Elissa B., Dripping Springs, TX

The Lion and the Saint by Laura E. Wolfe was an absolute pleasure to read. The storytelling is rich and creative. I empathized with the creatures, and saw myself in both Jordanes, the lion, and Astennu, the baboon. I highly recommend this book as do my daughters, 10 and 11. The following is my particular 11 year old daughter's review: "I loved the Lion and the Saint. It tells a story of faithfulness, and the love Jesus can bring to people's(and in this case, animals) hearts. There is just enough humor to juxtapose the seriousness of the characters. The bond between a lion and a saint, the courage Jordanes shows to make everything right, and the story behind it all makes this book a heartwarming tale." This is a story we will read over and over again.

-Jennifer, Berea, OH

Reminiscent of Lewis' magnetic world-building with the gorgeous prose of Tolkien or Chevalier, Laura E. Wolfe's The Lion and the Saint reads like a memoir and fantasy novella rolled into one. A beautiful retelling of the story of St. Gerasim and the Lion, Ms. Wolfe weaves her account through the eyes of both the lion himself as well as the baboon who becomes his companion. Her novella stretches from serving as a wonderful read-aloud for children to an emotionally resonant snapshot of God's sovereignty and human beings' deep ache for a world worthy of "more", leaving teens and adults alike feeling seen, their own journeys reflected and affirmed, in ink and paper.

I could not love this book more! I would recommend it heartily at any time, during any season, but, as our human collective is experiencing truly unique challenges in this current world climate, The Lion and the Saint is a story for right now possibly more than anything I have read in the past six months. Ancient stories remind us that we have never been alone. As in Ms. Wolfe's The Lion and the Saint, the truth is that we never will be. Dancing with truth and beauty, this novella hits readers straight in the heart with breathtaking imagery, witty dialogue, and memorable characters who stand the test of pages. I stan Gregory.

A must-read, a must-gift, simply a must!

Kelly B., Breinigsville, PA