Road To Joy: The Letters Of Thomas Merton To New And Old Friends - Softcover

Merton, Thomas; Daggy, Robert E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0156778181 ISBN 13: 9780156778183

Publisher: Harcourt, 1993

Synopsis

Opening with Merton's twenty-nine-year correspondence with the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark Van Doren, this book continues with his letters to relatives and friends on a rich variety of topics. Selected, edited, and with an Introduction by Robert E. Daggy; Preface by William H. Shannon; Index.

About this title

About the Author:

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born in France and came to live in the United States at the age of 24. He received several awards recognizing his contribution to religious study and contemplation, including the Pax Medal in 1963, and remained a devoted spiritualist and a tireless advocate for social justice until his death in 1968. The Sign of Jonas was originally published in 1953.

From Publishers Weekly:

Thomas Merton successfully lived an apparent paradox: a contemplative monk who wrote books, poems and essays and maintained a lively, voluminous correspondence. This collection of his letters, the second in a projected five-volume series, ranges from the mildly interesting to the truly inspiring. While too many fall into the former category, Merton's wit, vitality and intelligence animate the collections in flashes of wisdom and insight that are well worth the required sifting. Of his decision to take monastic orders, Merton writes about choosing " . . . between a world that belongs in a book by John O'Hara and one that belongs in a book by St. Theresa of Avila. . . . " Particularly charming are his letters to young people, in which he follows his first rule of good writing: never talk down to anyone. While not among the most substantial of his writings, this volume will find an appreciative audience among Merton enthusiasts. Daggy is curator of the Thomas Merton Center in Louisville, Ky.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harcourt
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0156778181
• ISBN 13: 9780156778183
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 383