Godric by Frederick Buechner

Godric

A Novel

Frederick Buechner

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · December 22, 1999

Frederick Buechner's Godric "retells the life of Godric of Finchale, a twelfth-century English holy man whose projects late in life included that of purifying his moral ambition of pride...Sin, spiritual yearning, rebirth, fierce asceticism--these hagiographic staples aren't easy to revitalize but Frederick Buechner goes at the task with intelligent intensity and a fine readiness to invent what history doesn't supply.

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Who it’s for
A brisk, unsentimental voice brings spiritual yearning down to earth, among affection, duty, and disaster.
Themes
Spirituality, Self-purification, Faith
Genres
Christian Historical Fiction, Medieval Historical Fiction, Faith & Fiction

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About this book

Frederick Buechner's Godric "retells the life of Godric of Finchale, a twelfth-century English holy man whose projects late in life included that of purifying his moral ambition of pride...Sin, spiritual yearning, rebirth, fierce asceticism--these hagiographic staples aren't easy to revitalize but Frederick Buechner goes at the task with intelligent intensity and a fine readiness to invent what history doesn't supply.

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He contrives a style of speech for his narrator--Godric himself--that's brisk and tough-sinewed...He avoids metaphysical fiddle, embedding his narrative in domestic reality--familiar affection, responsibilities, disasters...All on his own, Mr. Buechner has managed to reinvent projects of self-purification and of faith as piquant matter for contemporary fiction [in a book] notable for literary finish...Frederick Buechner is a very good writer indeed." -- Benjamin DeMott, The New York Times Book Review "From the book's opening sentence...and sensible reader will be caught in Godric's grip...Godric glimmers brightly." -- Peter S. Prescott, Newsweek "Godric is a memorable book...a marvelous gem of a book...destined to become a classic of its kind." -- Michael Heskett, Houston Chronicle "In the extraordinary figure of Godric, both stubborn outsider and true child of God, both worldly and unworldly, Frederick Buechner has found an ideal means of exploring the nature of spirituality. Godric is a living battleground where God fights it out with the world, the Flesh, and the Devil." -- London Times Literary Supplement "Wityh a poet's sensibly and a high reverent fancy, Frederick Buechner paints a memorable portrait." -- Edmund Fuller, The Wall Street Journal

Faith in the Flesh

A brisk, unsentimental voice brings spiritual yearning down to earth, among affection, duty, and disaster.

Come here for

  • A vivid encounter with faith tangled in ordinary life
  • Spiritual questions without metaphysical fuss

Expect

  • Tough-sinewed narration with a wry edge
  • A literary meditation on pride, sin, and renewal

Where it sits

Medieval Historical Fiction66%
Christian Historical Fiction62%
Faith & Fiction53%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Medieval Historical Fiction
  • Literary Fiction
  • Faith & Fiction
  • Christian Fiction
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Christian Historical Fiction
  • Women's Fiction
  • Catholicism
  • Religion in the Arts
Authors
Frederick Buechner
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
December 22, 1999
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Spirituality · Self-purification · Faith
Reading lane
Medieval Historical Fiction