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In 1948, a young monk from a Trappist monastery in Kentucky published the story of his life in a book called, "The Seven Storey Mountain." The monk was Thomas Merton. The book became an instant best-seller and propelled him onto the world stage.
Merton was first and foremost a monk, and he has become recognized as the greatest monastic figure of the century. But he was also a poet, essayist, translator, cartoonist, photographer, social and political activist, and mystic. His personal and religious struggles have made him a symbol of our search for meaning in the modern world.
1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of "The Seven Storey Mountain, and the 30th anniversary of Merton's death. In a three-part radio documentary biography, Merton scholar and professor Michael Higgins explores the spiritual geography of Thomas Merton.
Higgins and producer Bernie Lucht spent more than two years gathering and assembling material for the series. In June 1997, they recorded interviews at the meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society in Mobile, Alabama. Later in the year, there was a visit to the Abbey of Gethsemani, Merton's home for 27 years, to record interviews with monks who knew him. Other interviews were recorded elsewhere in the United States and in Europe.
Among those heard are:
Excerpts from Merton's writing are heard in the documentary and are read by the Canadian actor, R.H. Thomson.
Original music for the series was composed by Peter Togni, well-known to CBC Radio Two listeners as the host of "Stereo Morning," and now, "Weekender."
To order an audiocassette of this series, send a cheque or money order for $24.95 Cdn or $19.95 US (includes all taxes and shipping) to Ideas Transcripts, Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6. For more information on ordering transcripts or tapes, click here.
Associate producer: Liz Nagy. Sound engineer: David Field. The series producer is Bernie Lucht.
