A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE LIFE OF SAINT GERMAINE COUSIN
St-James does a wonderful retelling the true story of Cinderella. The original Cinderella fable was written by Charles Perrault in 1697, under the title “Cendrillon,” a story in Histoires ou contes du temps passé. In the fable Cinderella, has a difficult life plagued with abuse, but, through the power of magic, is delivered from the grip of her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. The fable of Cinderella is but child’s play compared to the true story recounted by Andrew St-James. Indeed, the dark, sinister treatment this little sixteenth-century French shepherdess received on a regular basis, at the hands of her stepmother and three stepsisters, is so appalling that it scandalizes anyone who reads the accounts of her life. This poor little shepherdess is, however, not left completely defenseless, for mysterious and mystical phenomena surround her life, but unlike the fable, these events are true.
In writing this story, the author investigated the official documents describing her life, in consultation with Jean-Pierre Jouffreau, the archivist of the diocese of Toulouse in France. The author assures the reader that the story of Germaine's life is real, and the main events of her life have been verified and confirmed. Saint-James does admit, however, to taking artistic license in filling in the gaps in her life so that a seamless story of her life could be told.
Although this story appears, from the outset, to be disturbing, it is nevertheless a real and hopeful beacon of light for those souls who have encountered or who are experiencing suffering. The reader, we are told by the author, can rely on the historicity of Germaine’s life story and feel confident and assured that they are not alone, and that they suffer not in vain. I think the world needs more books like this.
