St. Francis of Assisi and Nature: Tradition and Innovation in Western Christian Attitudes Toward the EnvironmentOne of the best loved saints of all time, Francis of Assisi is often depicted today as a kind of proto hippie or early environmentalist. This book, the most comprehensive study in English of Francis's view of nature in the context of medieval tradition, debunks modern anachronistic interpretations, arguing convincingly that Francis's ideas can only be understood in their 13th century context. Through close analysis of Francis's writings, particularly