The Virgin Mary is one of the most beloved figures of the Bible and a popular source of personal inspiration worldwide. Marianna Mayer"s moving telling of the revered saint"s youth, from her infancy to the birth of Jesus, is a vivid portrait of the compassionate girl who would one day be called the Mother of God. Illustrated with the works of such masters as Titian and Giotto and lavishly decorated with gold ornamentation, here is a celebration of one woman"s courage -- and the glory of God and angels.