Customer Reviews

Life of St. Columba (Penguin Classics)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Penguin Classic edition of Adomnan's Life of St. Columba must rate as the modern standard of the life of this early Celtic saint. A new translation by Richard Sharpe of Wadham College, Oxford has as its goal to make the work by Adomnan understood in English. A very readable historical introduction of about 100 pages sets the scene for Columba, for Adomnan and for the early monastery in Iona. Sharpe sifts through the many layers of stories that have grown up over the many centuries and notes what we have real evidence for and not. Adomnan's text itself is about 125 pages and then there is over 140 pages of detailed notes on the text, followed by an extensive bibliography and index. To take it all in one would have to be very familiar to early Irish history but of course this is the source for much of that history.

Whether one has been to Iona or followed the lives of the Northern Celtic saints in England & Scotland this work puts these stories in a living context. Adomnan was the 9th abbot of the monastery on Iona after Columba and wrote about 100 years after the saint's death. There is almost a sense of being present at the time of his stories about Columba and the monks and noted people of his times. With all the claims to veracity and eye-witness the hundreds of miracles that are related make one stop to think that perhaps these people experienced the interconnectedness of all life in ways beyond our experience today. This is an amazing story about a small out of the way place and a larger than life person. It is about real events that have had more effect on western history than we can probably imagine. It is almost forgotten to many and this new work (1994) may help bring it into our contemporary appreciation for the roots that made us who we are today.

Richard Sharpe's version of Adomnan's Life of St Columba consists of three, roughly equal, parts - an introduction, the book itself, and a series of scholarly notes. My advice would be to read the book itself first, then delve back into the introduction, which gives a helpful background to the political, religious and social climate of the time. The appeal of Celtic Christianity, I suppose, is that it arrives with us largely unsullied by the development of modern, industrial civilisation. Where other denominations have grown up with us, maybe aged with us to become cynical and confused, Celtic Christianity remains untouched, almost child like. It appears to be a religion that is close to nature and simple, appealing to our concerns for the environment, peace and justice. And its art is cool. Perhaps, though, it makes more sense to see life on Iona in the sixth century as just simpler, but also tougher and harsher. Columba says goodbye to his horse when he's dying (ah, he loved animals) but he also provided a poor man with a magic pointed stick to provide him with regular food. He's also politically astute and vengeful (well, via the wrath of God). So no hippy then. Adomnan's book is essentially a case for St Columba the saint, with miracles, prophecies and angels, but precious little of what the man really thought. Richard Sharpe's book allows this to come through clearly, and reminds us of how little we know for certain about these times. Maybe that's why today we are tempted to inspire them with the beliefs we need to give us comfort.

What truly amazes me, are the number of Christians who read this stuff, and come away saying, "Well, it wasn't really like this. He (the author) made some things up..." This is absurd. At least have the courage of your convictions. If you're looking for hard core, empirical research on the life of Columba, then you don't belong in the Hagiography section. However, if you are a devotee of Columba, whether as a monastic looking for guidance, or a spiritual seeker "in the world", then this Life of the Saint is a wonderful guide to the spiritual life. All conceivable things are covered: how to embrace one's spouse when they're just not lovable, how to raise children, how to do business, how to work, how to pray, and last but not least, how to get outside of your laughable self for a change. Those who are seeking a "factual" account of this Saint are in the wrong place entirely, since they can't seem to discern that the monster of Lochness might in fact, be a spiritual metaphor. They also can't seem to accept the fact that the hagiographer is telling the truth, as he knew it, is further a monk, and who, even further, knows full well that "tall tale telling" is a DEADLY SIN! Why people assume that hagiographers are waxing poetic is bad scholarship and bad logic. Instead, let's simply read his account and see what we discover: A truly good, compassionate and humble man who discovered the secret of Life: Jesus Christ. And why? Because life in Christ is just plain fun! It's fun to overcome evil Druids with prayer, and it's FUN to have the victory in Christ. It's FUN to go around feeding souls and touching hearts like only Columba can!

Eu'nan, the author, certainly isn't going to give you any "good reasons" or theories as to why his kinsman left the island. He says quite simply, "...he chose to be a pilgrim for Christ." How many Christians today can really make that simple and profound claim? He's giving you the soul of the Saint and you're wondering if he's telling the "truth"? The sooner we all understand this, the sooner we can all go have lunch. I like lunch. Columba liked lunch too and often relaxed the fast to accomodate guests. Let's read this book over lunch and you can have your people fax my people and we'll discuss it. Spiritual food always tastes better with real food.

This has excellent notes: it builds on the work of the Andersons [no longer available in an affordable edition] whose illuminating insights and notes are amplified by Sharpe.
The book - Adomnan's Life of Columba - is fascinating as a rare surviving early hagiography; full of detail concerning the politics, law, and customs of 6th century Scotland, Ireland, and Columba's interaction with the leading figures of that time. Adomnan's intention is naturally to portray the Christ-like qualities of his Saint; for the encouragement of others - and he focusses his account into 3 parts, the miracles, visions and foretellings.

It is immensely readable as an account; and Richard Sharpe's notes add enormously to the pleasure and interest. Warmly recommended to any reader, and especially to those interested in the real roots of Celtic Christianity.

Running to 432 pages, including 10 pages of maps and geneological tables, an introduction (100 pages), the translated Life (134 pages), scholarly footnotes (144 pages), bibliography and index, this is almost two books in one, and good value for the modest price.

I began reading this book reluctantly as part of the research for my Storyteller series, because Columba's life (521?-597) spans the period of my stories. I expected a dry, boring read: I was wrong. The introduction is interesting and well-written, with a large amount of helpful historical detail about the people and customs of this period, and the Life itself is lively and entertaining. Columba and his monastic family were important figures in 6th-8th century Scotland and Ireland, and anyone interested in this period should know their acts and history. If you fall in this category, buy this book now and read it: at only $12, you have no excuse. Highly recommended.

Angels were said to have lit the air around Saint Columba's head, and when he died the island of Iona was brightened by the Saint's ascent to heaven, flying above sea and sand with his angelic host. From Adomnán: "besides these miracles, which by God's gift the man of the Lord worked while he lived in mortal flesh, he began . . . to tell those with him what was happening elsewhere. He could see what was done afar off, because he was there in the spirit though not in the body. For as St Paul says, 'He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.' One time when a few of the brethren pressed him about this, the man of the Lord, St Columba, did not deny that by divine grace he had several times experienced a miraculous enlarging of the grasp of the mind so that he seemed to look at the whole world caught in one ray of sunlight" (1995:112). Here, Adomnán's Gaelic Christian spiritual perspective is as distinctive as the Book of Kells, said to have been created on Iona.

The notes following Adomnán's text describe how an original manuscript, possibly held by Adomnán himself in the late 690s or early 700s, was discovered in 1621. It was located at Reichenau monastery, on an island in Lake Constance, a popular destination for Irish monks. The manuscript may have been brought to Reichenau from Iona in the eighth or ninth century (1995:255).

Although the translator writes solely from a scholarly perspective, not one of belief or Catholicity, even deriding at times Adomnán's colorful language, Richard Sharpe's exhaustive research, descriptions of the Gaelic church, Dál Riata, and extensive notes make this an invaluable resource. That old rivalry between the English and the Irish Church is described, the conflict dating Easter and other issues, is represented by the differing views of Bede and Adomnán. Although the English clergy ascended in power after the Synod at Whitby, 664, Adomnán wrote that the English lagged behind the Irish in Christian heritage, "For up to that time the whole of England was darkened by the shadow of heathendom and ignorance, except for King Oswald . . . who had been baptized [on Iona] by the Irish. Why say more?" (1995:111).

Adomnán's lyrical classic provides a fascinating glimpse into a lost world. I also highly recommend, for historic and cultural context The Voice of the Irish: The Story of Christian Ireland. For a taste of the artistic spiritual beauty created on Iona, try The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin (Second Edition).

Like all Penguin classics, this is a scholarly but accessible edition of an ancient and enduring work. It includes an excellent introduction by Richard Sharpe, a fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, and an extensive bibliography. A must-read for anyone interested in the Celtic church fathers, and those seeking insight into the very special spirituality of Celtic Christianity.

this is an awesome book. it was like reading about the Life of Christ only 1000 years later. it also reminded me of a book called, the acts of the prophet, written by pearry green in tuscon, arizona. acts of the prophet is about the life of bro william branham which is also like reading about the Life of Christ only 2000 years later. The Lord Jesus Christ really is the same yesterday, today, and forever...AMEN!

A sweeping tapestry of the life and times, historically evocative and informative, but little available on Adomnan.