{"product_id":"thomas-merton-and-james-laughlin-selected-letters-9780393040692","title":"Thomas Merton and James Laughlin: Selected Letters","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe remarkable development of Thomas Mertonmonk  poet  and social criticas documented in nearly thirty years of correspondence with his publisher. Thomas Merton may have seemed an unlikely candidate for a best-selling author. Cloistered in a remote Kentucky monastery  Merton struggled as a young man to reconcile the contemplative life he sought as a monk and his very public passion for writing. Publisher James Laughlin saw Mertons talent and played the muse  encouraging him with the poems  essays  and diaries of other writers and publishing nearly everything Merton sent in return.  Ironically  the very society Merton rejected upon entering the monastery embraced his work  bringing him publishing success only dreamed of by more eager authors. Soon Merton discovered he had a podium  a voice  and a responsibility that weighed as heavily on him as his previous quest for silence. Laughlins encouragement remained constant throughout  as political ally  publishing adviser  and supporting friend.  Nearly thirty years of rich correspondence documents this strong literary and personal relationship and traces the remarkable development of Mertons vision: from an early focus on matters internal and religious  to a tremendous world view encompassing issues of race  politics  war  and the spiritual decay of modern society.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647439364149,"sku":"ByrdShop_0393040690","price":34.07,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780393040692.jpg?v=1781692472","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/thomas-merton-and-james-laughlin-selected-letters-9780393040692","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}