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Witness To Freedom: The Letters Of Thomas Merton In Times Of Crises

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Given the censorship that existed within Thomas Merton's Cistercian religous order, there is only so much of the man that one can really get to know through the books he wrote. The same can be said for his journals, especially the later journals, which it is fair to assume he knew would most likely be published one day.

His letters are a different matter, however, because his correspondence was not subject to censorship. In this volume, as in the other volumes of his letters, we see Merton in three dimensions. We get a sense for the broadness of the man, both the depth and the breadth of his fund of knowledge, as well as a sense for how much he treasured his friendships and how deeply he loved.

If you have read Merton's writings but not explored his letters, I highly recommend this volume as a starting point. Through it your understanding of Thomas Merton will grow exponentially.