A Brief History of Saints follows the rise of the cult of saints in Christianity from its origin in the age of the martyrs down to the present day. Refers to both well-known saints, such as Joan of Arc, and lesser-known figures like the "holy fools" in the Orthodox tradition. 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. Discusses the relevance of sainthood in the postmodern era. Two appendices describe patron saints and the iconography of saints in art.