"The celebrated spiritual writer Thomas Merton remains one of the most influential voices of our day. His many books have become modern spiritual classics and he opened up the riches of the monastic tradition for many. Here, Esther de Waal devises a seven day personal or group retreat programme using extracts from his writings and a selection of the photography for which he was also renowned - attentive studies of the simple things around him at Gethsemani, the Trappist monastery where he lived, and images from his many travels. Esther de Waal is a superb guide to this retreat that can be made at home, at a retreat centre or on holiday, over a week or a period of weeks. The focus of each of the seven days is: The Call, Response, The Solitary Within, Encounter With Christ, The Demands of Love, Ordinary Things, Integration."