<i>A Brief History of Saints</i> follows the rise of the cult of saints in Christianity from its origin in the age of the martyrs down to the present day.<br><ul><br><li>Refers to both well-known saints, such as Joan of Arc, and lesser-known figures like the 'holy fools' in the Orthodox tradition</li><br><li>Ranges over subjects as diverse as the history of canonization processes, the Reformation critique of the cult of saints, and the role of saints in other religious traditions</li><br><li>Discusses the relevance of sainthood in the postmodern era</li><br><li>Two appendices describe patron saints and the iconography of saints in art.</li></ul>