Preface -- Note on translations and orthography -- Introduction -- Pt. 1. Charting the course: An uneasy foothold -- In the shadow of greatness -- Witnesses to armageddon -- The problem of success -- Between tolerance and the intolerable -- Pt. 2. Building the church: In the apostles' classroom -- Learning the language of birds -- The business of conversion -- A good method and order -- Brothers of passion and mercy -- Conclusion -- Bibliographic note -- Notes -- Illustration credits -- index.