The Intimate Merton - by Thomas Merton (Paperback)

About the Book

An intimate portrait of Thomas Merton (1915-1968), a Trappist monk, bestselling author ("The Seven Storey Mountain"), and peace activist, is presented in this autobiography drawn from Merton's own personal journals.

Book Synopsis

In this diary-like memoir, composed of his most poignant and insightful journal entries, The Intimate Merton lays bare the steep ways of Thomas Merton's spiritual path. Culled from the seven volumes of his personal journals, this twenty nine year chronicle deepens and extends the story Thomas Merton recounted and made famous in The Seven Storey Mountain. This book is the spiritual autobiography of our century's most celebrated monk -- the wisdom gained from the personal experience of an enduring spiritual teacher. Here is Merton's account of his life's major challenges, his confrontations with monastic and church hierarchies, his interaction with religious traditions east and west, and his antiwar and civil-rights activities. In The Intimate Merton we engage a writer's art of "confession and witness" as he searches for a contemporary, authentic, and global spirituality.

Recounting Merton's earliest days in the monastery to his journey east to meet the Dalai Lama, The Intimate Merton captures the essence of what makes Thomas Merton's life journey so perennially relevant.

Review Quotes

"Brilliant social, political, and personal commentaries."-- "New York Times Book Review"I rejoice in this rich volume...It is a book I will keep by my bed for the spiritual nourishment and the pure joy in the writing."-- "Frank McCourt, author of "'Tis and "Angela's Ashes"With the publication of this stunning, diary-like memoir, the gravitational pull of Thomas Merton's legacy will have no end in sight."-- "The Merton Seasonal