New Releases by James Harpur

For 2,000 years, women and men of the Christian faith have experienced what some mystics call a 'dazzling darkness': the spiritual journey to the heart of ultimate reality, or God. These direct communions have ranged from mild illuminations to a union consuming the mystic's will. This book traces such spiritual figures' lives, times and teachings, from early Christendom to modern mystics like Simone Weil and Thomas Merton. It explores how the anchoress Julian of Norwich grew up while the Black Death was devastating Europe; how, when the beguine Marguerite Porete lived, the Church was particularly primed to burn 'heretics'; and how Pierre Teilhard de Chardin developed his idea of spiritual evolution with Darwin's theories in the air. Deeply researched and highly engaging, Dazzling Darkness tells the stories of towering figures like Hildegard of Bingen, Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, and highlights many lesser-known mystics, including Mary of Egypt, Seraphim of Sarov and Charles de Foucauld, allowing their voices to sing out to future generations.

The payphone trap -- Helots -- Illyria -- Hermit -- Ithaca.

The Story of the Christian Mystics offers concise, illuminating portraits of some eighty major mystics of the Christian tradition, from the beginnings to the present. The radiant lives of these God-seeking women and men transformed their own times, and their profound contributions to divine wisdom continue to impact our own search for meaning. The Story of the Christian Mystics provides the historical and spiritual context of each of these mystics, as well as descriptions of their experiences of encountering the Divine. In their witness and writings, mystics have shown that the direct apprehension of God can be radically transformative, not only through the deepening of their own spiritual lives, but also by helping them to deal with and benefit the world. For many great mystics, the contemplative and active lives were mutually supportive. Infused with mystical love, Francis of Assisi embraced a state of poverty and served those on the margins of society; Catherine of Siena campaigned for peace among warring factions and tried to unify religious powers; Catherine of Genoa tended to the sick and dying in her local hospital; Teresa of Avila reformed her monastic order and founded new convents, while George Fox founded the Society of Friends, or Quakers; and in the twentieth century, Thérèse of Lisieux and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Simone Weil and Thomas Merton were mystics for the troubled times they lived in. For readers of any faith or none, The Story of the Christian Mystics presents this great mystical tradition full of commitment, hope, and inspiration and encourages us to transform ourselves and our world through the deepening of love.

At the heart of James Harpur’s The White Silhouette is a meditative poem inspired by the Book of Kells – a poem that follows threads into themes such as the nature of the divine, the efficacy of sacred art, and the way of silence. The title poem – described in the TLS as a ‘compelling spiritual memoir’ – is a haunting journey of ‘missed encounters’ in the landscapes of Wiltshire, Tipperary, and Patmos. Elsewhere, Harpur writes about pilgrimage, the Perseids, mystical experiences, and icons and iconoclasm – from Rublev’s golden images to decapitated angels in Galway. He complements his explorations of the sacred with more directly personal poems, including elegies and elegiac translations from Homer and Horace. Harpur’s poetry is distinguished by its lyric grace and mythohistorical resonance. The musical texture of his lines conveys the warmth, clarity and intimacy of a voice exploring the mysteries of natural, human, and metaphysical worlds. The White Silhouette is the richest summation of his spiritual journey to date.

Pilgrimage in the Western world is enjoying a growing popularity, perhaps more so now than at any time since the Middle Ages. The Pilgrim Journey tells the fascinating story of how pilgrimage was born and grew in antiquity, how it blossomed in the Middle Ages and faltered in subsequent centuries, only to re-emerge stronger than before in modern times. James Harpur describes the pilgrim routes and sacred destinations past and present, the men and women making the journey, the many challenges of travel, and the spiritual motivations and rewards. He also explores the traditional stages of pilgrimage, from preparation, departure, and the time on the road, to the arrival at the shrine and the return home. At the heart of pilgrimage is a spiritual longing that has existed from time immemorial. The Pilgrim Journey is both the colourful chronicle of numerous pilgrims of centuries past searching for heaven on earth, and an illuminating guide for today''s spiritual traveller.

Celtic Myth: A Treasury of Legends, Art, and History

Harpur displays both human tenderness and an otherworldly wonder while keeping a sharply observant eye on the everyday world.

Par la multitude des récits, des prophéties et des enseignements qui les composent, l'Ancien et le Nouveau Testament n'ont cessé de passionner et de guider de nombreuses générations. A l'intérieur de ce livre, adapté à tous les membres de la famille, découvrez ce trésor de l'humanité, à travers une quarantaine d'épisodes puisés parmi les plus importants et les plus spectaculaires de la Bible. Depuis la présentation symbolique de la création du monde jusqu'à la vie fascinante de Jésus, en passant par l'histoire exaltante de David et Goliath, tous les passages bibliques présentés dans cet ouvrage sont racontés avec simplicité, sans jamais pour autant trahir les textes d'origine. Au fil des pages, de précieuses informations sur le contexte historique, géographique et culturel de l'époque ainsi que de nombreuses surprises (animations, livrets, fiches, cartes...) vous permettront de faire de la découverte de la Bible une expérience familiale interactive ! Des surprises vous attendent ! Une carte à déplier pour situer les lieux bibliques. Des fiches à emporter partout sur lesquelles figurent quelques-uns des plus beaux psaumes. Des livrets à parcourir pour en savoir plus sur l'interprétation des songes, sur les douze apôtres... La reproduction d'un manuscrit de la mer Morte à dérouler. Une tirette à actionner pour découvrir le message divin.

This series of photographic histories, produced in conjunction with Getty Images, is a multi-faceted vision of Britain over the past century-and-a-half, a heritage shared by all who live within its shores.

This series of photographic histories, produced in conjunction with Getty Images, is a multi-faceted vision of Britain over the past century-and-a-half, a heritage shared by all who live within its shores.

The ultimate guide to extraordinary, enchanting, and sinster creatures. All over the world, from ancient legends to modern movies, stories about creatures have abounded and this atlas covers them all. Learn their stories and tips on how to survive an encounter of your own!

Discover fearsome beasts, such as the snake-haired gorgans and the crocodile-headed Ammut, as well as creatures of beauty, such as the majestic phoenix and the graceful unicorn. Follow the Greek hero Theseus through the labyrinth to kill the bull-headed Minotaur. A book filled with roars and blood-curdling cries of creatures you pray never to meet.

What was Jesus of Nazareth really like? What effect did he have on those he met and befriended? How did he impart his teachings and perform his miracles? These are the questions that James Harpur explores through Joseph of Arimathea, one of the most enigm

A study of the allocation of state and public financial resources in the Russian Federation. Among the problems documented are the very high differentiation of the regions in terms of level of development, public welfare and self-sufficiency; and inefficiencies in the taxation system.

A new perspective on early Irish history with the travels and travails of saints.

Boethius'' reputation as a poet is reestablished in these fresh and thoughtful versions.

The heart of the Christian faith is a direct encounter with God so profound that it can be referred to as union. It is an experience that cannot be described in words, but it can be glimpsed--in the radiant lives of the men and women called mystics. Here James Harpur presents the stories of some of the most influential Christian mystics from the past two thousand years. He provides their historical and ecclesiastical contexts, as well as appreciations of the unique contributions of each of them to the ongoing articulation of the way of love and union. Love Burning in the Soul is a comprehensive and highly readable survey of the great Christian mystical tradition for everyone. Included are: Clement of Alexandria * Gregory of Nyssa * John Scotus Eriugena * Bernard of Clairvaux * Hildegard of Bingen * Francis of Assisi * Mechtild of Magdeburg * Meister Eckhart * John Tauler * Jan van Ruysbroeck * Gregory Palamas * Richard Rolle * Julian of Norwich * Catherine of Siena * Jacob Boehme * George Fox * Teresa of �vila * Fran�ois F�nelon * Jean Pierre de Caussade * William Blake * Pierre Teilhard de Chardin * Thomas Merton * Many others

This atlas charts a worldwide journey through varied territory, beginning where legend, myth and reality meet. These are the eternal realms, such as the Garden of Eden, Camelot and Avalon, which cannot now be seen, but which have for centuries motivated explorers, writers and artists. The natural settings are as varied as those of Hawaii's Haleakala Crater, Japan's Mount Fuji and India's River Ganges, places where gods and heroes are believed to have walked on Earth. the Valley of the Kings; the Mayan city of Tikal in the heart of the Guatemalan jungle; and Ohio's Serpent Mound, created by the ancestors of the Native Americans. Human-built beauty and monuments are the stuff of legends too, from the Taj Mahal to the Forbidden City and Elsinore. Legendary places can embody the triumph of human courage over adversity, as witnessed in the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral.

An illustrated guide book to the events, places and people of the Bible.

"Drawing on contemporary accounts and a wealth of illustration, Sacred Treks captures the atmosphere of pilgrimage through the ages. Divided into three sections - "Early Paths," "Medieval Roads," and "Modern Ways" - the book describes every aspect of pilgrimage past and present, from the practicalities of setting out, to the difficult conditions of travel, to the great sites such as Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela, and Canterbury. The book looks at the pilgrims themselves, from St. Brendan, who is said to have cast himself adrift, letting God guide his search for a paradisal holy island, to the penitents, cure-seekers, and adventurers who in the Middle Ages set out for the unknown in their millions."