''Lay Siege to Heaven'' by Louis de Wohl is a historical novel that tells the vibrant life story of St. Catherine of Siena (14th century), focusing on her mystical experiences, refusal of marriage, intense devotion, and extraordinary influence in a turbulent era, as she convinced Popes to return to Rome, pacified warring Italian city-states, served during the plague, and performed miracles, truly "laying siege to heaven" through her unwavering faith and actions, making it both a biography and a spiritual exploration.