Victor A. Kramer

Thomas Merton and the Noonday Demon

History & Biography

“This book is quite amazing. It is good and clear and strangely challenging. It tells us about a Merton we would as soon not know about while we also learn to admire him. It is well organized, not preachy, and compassionate. It is well researched and charitable. It is both difficult to read and a pleasure. It makes you wonder. It enlightens, both a scholarly book, well written and compelling. It tells us several stories: Merton's quest; the author's quest; and implies everyone's quest in seeking the will of God. It is about indecision and revision and the need to know, but finally it reminds us that we have a need to accept the fact that we must have faith. It is about vocation and seeking, hoping, and praying and it is a mystery-detective story too, well worth reading.”