The Saint

** "The Saint" by Antonio Fogazzaro is a story about change and figuring out what's really important. After messing up in the past because of love and feeling bad about it, Piero Maironi, who now goes by Benedetto, is trying to become a holy person by praying and living a simple life. His story is different from Jeanne Dessalle's, who is dealing with her own tough feelings and ideas, especially about love. The book starts with Jeanne thinking about her life near a calm lake, showing us she's not sure what she wants. We learn that Piero used to be an artist who was in love with her, but now he's a monk trying to do good. The book is all about these opposite ideas—like love versus doing what you should, or wanting things versus being spiritual. The characters have to face their own problems and think about how to fix their mistakes, while also dealing with what people expect from them and what their religion tells them. **