Saints and Heroes since the Middle Ages Book

(fitting that this book, that deals among other things with slaves and free men, is written by a man with a surname of 'Freeman')

This is a biography seeking the true, historic man and talks about the world of the time too, which tells us things that any written material may not be able to (through archaeology). A few black and white pictures are included, and the chapters are just the right lenght. There is also map of the Celtic lands and of Ireland in Patrick's time.

We follow Patrick's life from his early years to his old age, we witness his slavery in his youth, guess what he did between escape and comic band, what he did in Ireland - no, there were never snakes in Ireland, as a Roman writing from 200 years before Patrick also states - and the two letters of his we still have (lucky thing they were copied often enough, because originals are lost, and many copies are not in full or just fragments).

At the end are two letters of Patrick (that show both his character and his lack of learning (due to slavery)), the spelling of some Irish names and words, timeline and some suggested reading.

The text shows the time around the fall of Rome, and how it wasn't as disastrous as I thought it could've been, nor how those who experienced the fall feared. It shows what influences three groups of people in Ireland had on Patrick's ability to spread his faith (the numerous small kings, the druids of both sexes, the women of both free and slave kind). A chapter on Corocticus, who Patrick wrote to, to free some Christian slaves that the man, as a Christian, shouldn't have taken - whatever the result was, it did no doubt give some influence in all the places it was read.

We also get a chapter on what the Ireland was like after Patrick (his life's end is quite open, but whether it was peaceful or not, there is no grave, as he wished it to be so). At leas for the next 200 years not all were Christians, nor were times peaceful, but the faith stayed. Some Irish monks and clergy did travel eastwars, to Britain and Gaul at least, and gave influence to certain areas.

This is the historical Patrick, not so much the religious legend with the evading poisoning, driving out snakes etc., and it's a better view this way. It shows Patrick's deep trust in God for guiding and protecting him during his life - and although at first Patrick was forgotten for a while, he eventually because the popular figure we have today; this book adds the real, faith-driven man into it. A very worthy reading for anyone interested :)