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Secondary sourceBook1921

Saint Benedict

Frances Alice Forbes · 1921

A 1921 short biography of Benedict of Nursia written for young readers as part of a series on the lives of saints.

A biography written for young readers retelling the life of Benedict as founder of Western monasticism.

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Saint BenedictPDF · 146 pages
Frances Alice Forbes, Saint Benedict, 1921 (scanned book, Internet Archive).

About this source

What it is

This 1921 book by Frances Alice Forbes is a short biography of Benedict of Nursia, abbot of Monte Cassino, published in New York as part of a series called 'Standard-bearers of the Faith' aimed at young and old readers. It covers his youth, his departure from his father's house, and his life as a monk.

Why it matters

Written for a general and youthful audience, it shows how Benedict's story was retold in the early twentieth century to inspire readers, reflecting both the historical record from earlier sources and the religious purposes of its author.

Look closer

  • Who was this book written for, and how might that affect what details it includes or leaves out?
  • What does the book's structure, starting with Rome in the fifth century, tell you about how the author sets the historical scene?
  • How does a biography meant to inspire differ from one meant only to inform?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Benedict on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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