Figures for an Apocalypse

by Thomas Merton

Second printing, in the same format and year of publication. Merton's scarce second book is fine and unmarked. The uncommonly fine jacket has a few top edge nicks, protected by a Mylar plastic cover. An attractive, solid copy.

Genres: Poetry

62 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Thomas Merton, religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. In December 1941 he entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani and in May 1949 he was ordained to priesthood. He was a member of the convent of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, living there from 1941 to his death.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US. It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama XIV; Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.

Reviews

[Jim Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one had two qualities that I love in a book:

1. It's by Thomas Merton
2. It's short

Unfortunately, it also had one quality that I almost never enjoy in a book:

1. It's full of poems

There are exceptions, of course. I've read a book of poetry here and there that I couldn't put down. But as a rule, not a big, big fan of poetry. Or, perhaps more accurate, not a big, big fan of poetry collections. Poems are a little like people. One at a time they're not so bad. Put enough of them all in one place and ask me to interact with them and I just want to leave.

There were a few nice bits and pieces in this book. Every Merton book has something very much worth saying. Here, he creates some beautiful images that can take you back to ideas expressed in "Raids On the Unspeakable" or "The Seven Story Mountain." But in the end it wasn't enough to make this enjoyable for me.

He ends with an essay. Not his best essay.

Overall, I give this a "2," but I recognize that that's not entirely fair. If you really like poetry, you might love this.

And, hey, I found this in a nice, old, serious-looking edition that is going to look really cool on the shelf next to my other Merton books, so on that superficial level it's totally a winner.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read poetry all that often, but I've really enjoyed Merton's poetry. Albeit, I don't understand all of it because sometimes a knowledge of Greek mythology and of Catholic saints is necessary to get the point of certain lines. Some of his images seem conflicting which requires the reader to slow down and ponder what he is communicating.
Merton felt that the Christian poet should assist believers in a life of contemplation and at the end of the poems, he included an in depth article on the contemplative life and how it intersects with art and poetry.