Two Worlds in the Tennessee Mountains: Exploring the Origins of Appalachian Stereotypes

Download or read book Two Worlds in the Tennessee Mountains: Exploring the Origins of Appalachian Stereotypes written by David C. Hsiung and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nature was always vital in Thomas MertonÕs life, from the long hours he spent as a child watching his father paint landscapes in the fresh air, to his final years of solitude in the hermitage at Our Lady of Gethsemani, where he contemplated and wrote about the beauty of his surroundings. Throughout his life, MertonÕs study of the natural world shaped his spirituality in profound ways, and he was one of the first writers to raise concern about ecological issues that have become critical in recent years. In The Environmental Vision of Thomas Merton, author Monica Weis suggests that MertonÕs interest in nature, which developed significantly during his years at the Abbey of Gethsemani, laid the foundation for his growing environmental consciousness. Tracing MertonÕs awareness of the natural world from his childhood to the final years of his life, Weis explores his deepening sense of place and desire for solitude, his love and responsibility for all living things, and his evolving ecological awareness.