The Letters of Thomas Merton and Victor and Carolyn Hammer

Poet, social justice activist, and theologian Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century. In his short lifetime, he penned over seventy books and maintained a brisk correspondence with a variety of colleagues around the globe. However, many Merton scholars and fans remain unaware of the significant body of letters that the Trappist monk exchanged with Victor and Carolyn Hammer. Unable to leave his home at the Abbey of Gethsemani except on special occasions, Merton developed a unique friendship with this couple from nearby Lexington, Kentucky. In this volume, the editors have collected the complete correspondence between Merton and the Hammers for the first time. The letters, arranged chronologically, vividly demonstrate a blossoming intellectual camaraderie, from professional discussions of printing costs to richly articulated explorations of religion and aesthetics. They also provide a unique opportunity to understand Merton's evolving philosophies, as his requests for books from Carolyn reflect his reading interests during the thirteen years spanned by their correspondence. Often profound, and at times humorous, the letters in this volume reveal a rare friendship and offer new insights into the creative intellect of Thomas Merton."--