Leaving so few traces of himself behind, Thomas Aquinas seems to defy the efforts of the biographer. Highly visible as a public teacher, preacher, and theologian, he nevertheless has remained nearly invisible as man and saint. What can be discovered about Thomas Aquinas as a whole? In this short, compelling portrait, Denys Turner clears away the haze of time and brings Thomas vividly to life for contemporary readers—those unfamiliar with the saint as well as those well acquainted with his teachings. Building on the best biographical scholarship available today and reading the works of Thomas with piercing acuity, Turner seeks the point at which the man, the mind, and the soul of Thomas Aquinas intersect. Reflecting upon Thomas, a man of Christian Trinitarian faith yet one whose thought is grounded firmly in the body’s interaction with the material world, a thinker at once confident in the powers of human reason and a man of prayer, Turner provides a more detailed human portrait than ever before of one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in all of Western thought. “With his familiar combination of deep faith and tough-minded analysis, Denys Turner introduces us to the thought of the greatest of Christian theologians, and does so in the lucid, expressive prose of a superb teacher.”—Terry Eagleton (Terry Eagleton) "Denys Turner's exciting new reading of Thomas Aquinas emphasizes what he provocatively calls Thomas's materialism, his insistence that matter bears meaning. Thomas Aquinas is a book to be treasured by all who know and admire Thomas-and all who would like to know him."—Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago (Bernard McGinn) “While he insists this book is written for newcomers and not for old hands, let this one in the latter category testify that since Denys Turner distils years of studying Aquinas and writes so beautifully, we are all in his debt for this splendid book."—Fergus Kerr, University of Edinburgh (Fergus Kerr) “A brilliant introduction to Thomas Aquinas and his thought, beautifully written.  Denys Turner distills Thomistic theology with consummate skill, and, in the process, crafts a portrait of St. Thomas, the man, which deserves to be recognized as a masterpiece.  A rare achievement, this lucid, learned book is destined to become a classic.”—Carlos Eire, Yale University (Carlos Eire) “A fine, idiosyncratic introduction to the saint and his mind . . . full of grace notes . . . [Turner] presents a thinker who is indispensable for believers and nonbelievers alike.”—Michael Robbins, Chicago Tribune ( Chicago Tribune ) “[A] superb study”—Terry Eagleton, London Review of Books (Terry Eagleton London Review of Books 2013-12-05) “I would recommend Turner’s book for anyone curious about the Mr. Spock of the Middle Ages . . . Turner briefly but concretely fleshes him out in the full context of his age, with all of its paradoxes and contradictions.”—John Farrell, Forbes (selected as “Book of the Year” for John Farrell’s blog) (John Farrell Forbes ) “Turner wields his pen with great finesse, achieving thin strokes that convey in fine detail interesting facets of the saint’s life and thought.”—Aquinas Guilbeau, Claremont Review of Books (Aquinas Guilbeau Claremont Review of Books ) Leaving few traces of his personal life behind, Thomas Aquinas has long stymied the efforts of biographers. Undeterred, master teacher Denys Turner uncovers revealing details about the elusive saint and achieves an illuminating new portrait. Denys Turner  is Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale University.