Review by Library Journal Review
Atkinson, a filmmaker and director of a forthcoming documentary on Merton, edited this book from 200 hours of unused footage that consisted mostly of interviews with what he calls the "Merton choir" of almost 30 friends, monastic colleagues, and scholars. Atkinson also uses material from Merton's journals, which were withheld until 25 years after Merton's 1968 death. The result is a wonderful mosaic of a book, revealing many aspects of a very complex man who, from age 20 to his death at 53, was a monk, literary critic, promoter of social justice, peacemaker, poet, and spiritual theologian. Atkinson is a participant observer of his subject, not through personal friendship but through personal affect: he attributes not only his conversion to Roman Catholicism but also his living "as a more fully human being" to Merton's writings. Merton lived a full human life, with contradictions, weaknesses, but also remarkable resilience, fidelity, and ability to reach out to many "others"-non-monks, non-Catholics, non-Christians, and women-and to be humble enough to be "heard." Highly recommended for public and seminary libraries. (Accompanying DVD not seen.)-Carolyn M. Craft, emerita professor, Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
