This is a brilliant meditation on the long lasting importance of Thomas Merton, the writer, even far, far more than Merton the spiritual leader. She investigates how he narratively developed several seminal books, including the renown Seven Storey Mountain. As a writer myself, I found so much of value in this pivotal study of Thomas Merton. It adds a new dynamic onto Merton scholarship.

A very personal look at Thomas Merton, as author Mary Gordon strives to discover the answer to the question, “What kind of writer was he?” Gordon examines Merton’s letters, autobiography, and journals, and his book My Argument with the Gestapo (the inclusion of this section was puzzling to me). There is no real narrative here: It is a series of somewhat choppy observations that seem to jump quickly from subject to subject. I see it as a bit startling for the casual reader to pick up, and it is definitely not for readers who are new to Merton. Some interesting observations, but a little too limited in scope for the reader seeking a wider view and more inspirational take on Merton. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review of this title.

I remember selling Thomas Merton books regularly when I worked in the bookstore, so thought that int his holiday season, some religious reading might not be amiss. Merton is a fascinating man who has been the subject of much research, For newcomer's to his faith and philosophy, like me, I cannot recommend this book. There are extensive quotations from his journals that allow the reader to get a sense of his writing style and thoughts, but the author's interpretations were lacking and presumed the reader came with an introduction to Merton already to hand.