Product Description

Contains The Cloud of Unknowing, The Mystical Theology of Saint Denis, The Book of Privy Counselling, and An Epistle on Prayer. Against a tradition of devotional writings which focussed on knowing God through Christ's Passion and his humanity, these texts describe a transcendent God who exists beyond human knowledge and human language. These four texts are at the heart of medival mystical theology in their call for contemplation, calm, and above all, love, as the way to understand the Divine.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34820 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-30
• Original language: Middle English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

About the Author
The identity of the author of The Cloud of Unknowing is not known, but he was undoubtedly an English priest who lived during the latter half of the 14th century. A. C. Spearing is Professor of English at the University of Virginia. He has published widely on medieval literature and has translated Julian of Norwich's Revelations of Divine Love for Penguin Classics.

Customer Reviews

This book is a life-changer
The man who wrote this was a genius. He tells you how to avoid introspection and self-pity and how to proceed up the spiritual path.It is a book which should be read slowly and really enjoyed.A true classic.

The Cloud
This Penguin Classic Edition contains some of the works of the author of the Cloud of Unknowing. A lucid, intelligent translation it helps anyone who is beginning to walk the way of Christian Contemplative prayer both to learn to pray and to deepen their prayer journey. One discovers that the simplicity of the text is the result of deep wisdom and a disciplined prayer life and not an easy accomplishment. It also helps the more experienced traveller on The Way as it continues to remind us of our dependence on God, in his Trinitarian aspect: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit and the necessity of our surrendour to Him.