Frederick Buechner& #39; s < I> Godric< /I> "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& #39; t easy to revitalize but Frederick Buechner goes at the task with intelligent intensity and a fine readiness to invent what history doesn& #39; t supply. He contrives a style of speech for his narrator--Godric himself--that& #39; 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, < I> The New York Times Book Review< /I> < P> "From the book& #39; s opening sentence...and sensible reader will be caught in < I> Godric< /I> & #39; s grip...< I> Godric< /I> glimmers brightly." -- Peter S. Prescott, < I> Newsweek< /I> < P> "< I> Godric< /I> is a memorable book...a marvelous gem of a book...destined to become a classic of its kind." -- Michael Heskett, < I> Houston Chronicle< /I> < P> "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. < I> Godric< /I> is a living battleground where God fights it out with the world, the Flesh, and the Devil." -- < I> London Times Literary Supplement< /I> < P> "Wityh a poet& #39; s sensibly and a high reverent fancy, Frederick Buechner paints a memorable portrait." -- Edmund Fuller, < I> The Wall Street Journal< /I>
