St George: Let's Hear it For England! - Rilegato

Maloney, Alison

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1848092628 ISBN 13: 9781848092624

Casa editrice: Preface Publishing, 2010

Riassunto

Pope Gelasius, who canonized St George in 494, described him as one of those 'whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God.' The story of England's Patron Saint is so encased in myth and legend that the truth of his remarkable life is unknown to the great majority of us.

In many ways the attitude of the English, reflects the many contradictions in the story of St George and the growth of his legend worldwide. A Christian martyr, murdered by a Roman emperor in Palestine, he is a legendary dragon-slayer who saved a virgin princess from sacrifice - but not before insisting her entire town converts to Christianity. Yet he is also the model for mythical Islamic hero Al Khidr. He is the Patron Saint of England but never set foot on English soil and the legend of his knightly deeds came from the imagination of a bishop in Italy.

In recent years, through national pride more than religious fervour, the popularity of St George's Day has risen sharply, with more parades, parties and pub get-togethers than we saw in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Su questo libro

Descrizione del libro:

Over the last five years the 23rd of April, St George's Day, has become the focus for a huge upsurge in English patriotism, St George! Let's Hear It For England is a rallying call to make it our National Day and a bank holiday.

Dalla seconda/terza di copertina:

In his reassessment of the legends of saints, in 494 AD, sceptic Pope Gelasius described Saint George as one of those 'whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God.' The story of England's Patron Saint is so encased in myth and legend that the truth of his remarkable life is unknown. Yet, despite his position as the figurehead of England, more than a quarter of those living in the country could not name their patron saint and fewer still could name the date of Saint George's Day.

In many ways the attitude of the English, reflects the many contradictions in the story of St George and the growth of his legend worldwide. A Christian martyr, murdered by a Roman emperor in Palestine, he is a legendary dragon-slayer who saved a virgin princess from sacrifice - but not before insisting her entire town converts to Christianity. But he is also the model for mythical Islamic hero Al Khidr. He is the Patron Saint of England but never set foot on English soil and the legend of his knightly deeds came from the imagination of a bishop in Italy.

After a long time on the sidelines, Saint George is back in fashion.But who is the real man behind the myth? Did Saint George actually exist or was he merely the hero in an epic tale of derring-do invented by a fertile medieval imagination?

This book looks at the facts, the legends and the worldwide spread of fame behind the patron saint of England.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Preface Publishing
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1848092628
• ISBN 13: 9781848092624
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 192