cover image American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton

American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton

Joan Barthel. Thomas Dunne, $26.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-312-57162-7

Nuns in the United States have recently come under fire from the male Catholic hierarchy for not being orthodox enough. So this compelling biography of the first American-born saint, who was also a nun, comes at an excellent time. Bestselling writer Bartel (A Death in Canaan) has constructed an exquisite story of Seton’s inspiring life. She was born Elizabeth Bayley into a prominent New York Episcopalian family and, at age 19, married wealthy businessman William Magee Seton. After losing her husband to tuberculosis, she converted to Catholicism during a time of persecution and founded the Sisters of Charity. Seton faced trials in her 46 years of life but remained confident about God’s will. That gave her an abiding trust in and awareness of God’s constant presence in her life and the lives of others. Readers interested in Catholic history and U.S. history should not overlook this important biography. Agency: Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. (Mar.)