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My Argument with the Gestapo: Autobiographical novel
Of the full-length prose works that Thomas Merton wrote before he entered the Cistercian Order in 1941, only My Argument with the Gestapo has survived––perhaps in part because it was a book that Merton never ceased wanting to see in print.
Although it first appeared after his death in 1968, he had arranged for its publication, written a foreword for it, and was delighted with the prospect of its at last becoming a part of his published works. My Argument with the Gestapo tells of the adventures of a young man, clearly identified by the name Thomas Merton, who travels from America to Europe to report on the war with Germany from the viewpoint of a poet. He hates the war, yet is driven to come to terms with it. There is a pervading sense of dreamworld or hallucination, heightened by the device of passages written in a macaronic language, invented from multilingual roots, to satirize and parody political propaganda speeches dealing with the war. A work of imagination (Merton did not in fact return to England after the start of World War II in Europe), it nevertheless contains much that is autobiographical and revealing of the young Merton. Most clearly visible are the seeds of his never-forsaken concern with peace and nonviolence and his abhorrence of war. Indeed, his outspoken criticism of Britain at a time when all the emphasis was on 'the brave little island standing alone' foreshadows his devotion to truth as he saw it, no matter what the cost. And students of Merton will find scenes in the book that are straight autobiography, amplifying and perhaps filling in gaps in what later was to be the beginning of Merton's great literary success, The Seven Storey Mountain (1948).
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Reviews
“there is no evading the universal human crisis of which they were but one partial symptom” fitting for our time together now. Thomas Merton is one of the most profound minds of our grandfather’s generation. growing up under a time line when fighting and struggling against walls of haters and fear in violence thru propaganda parallel of current events. in fact i am drawn to Thomas Merton in search to learn how we may contend to speak within our broken communities today. much like Deitrich Bonhoeffer and Elie Weisel and Victor Frankle these men all lived and suffered through a generation of hate and division. their wisdom is meanful, and offers value. highly recommended add to a good library.
By Boll Weevill
OMG! I really tried to stick with this book, but there are only short anecdotes, the rest are random thoughts, words, and a slew of description.
By gerards86