This dictionary of saints chronicles the mysterious history of sainthood, telling the story of individual holy lives from a modern perspective. It also unravels some of the myths surrounding sainthood, and explores such issues as the importance of symbolism in Christian art, holy sites and the significance of relics and pilgrimage. As well as dozens of well-known and most-loved saints such as St Francis of Assisi and Joan of Arc, other more local and perhaps less well-known saints are also described such as Wolfgang of Regensburg and Leander, Bishop of Seville. The book is illustrated with more than 350 images of saints, the places where they lived, beautiful churches and mysterious relics.