Communion: Contemporary Writers Reveal the Bible in Their Lives

by David Rosenberg (Editor)

Bestselling author David Rosenberg ( The Book of J , written with Harold Bloom) has used his penetrating insight and ecumenical scholarship to bring together a spirited congregation of our most interesting, provocative and beloved literary writers to explore the Christian bible--the Old and New Testaments--in their lives. In a dazzling collection of original essays that are by turns illuminating, reflective, deeply personal and always revealing, writers as diverse as Joyce Carol Oates and Kathleen Norris, David Bradley and Michael Dorris, search out the literary traditions and spiritual meanings of specific books of the Bible-from Genesis to Ecclesiastes, from the Gospel According to Saint Matthew to the Gospel According to John-and examine how they conflict with, challenge, contradict or elucidate their work, their inner lives and the world around them. Entitled Communion , the collection embraces writers from a wide variety of (primarily) Christian backgrounds; some remain deeply religious, while others have fallen away from the traditions and spirit of organized religion. But for each, the Bible has had a lasting and often pivotal influence on their writing and their thought.

A bold and imaginative examination of the Bible in contemporary life, Communion is nothing less than a literary and intellectual feast."


From the Trade Paperback edition.

547 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

David Rosenberg is an American poet, biblical translator, editor, and educator. He is best known for The Book of J (with Harold Bloom) and A Poet's Bible, which earned PEN Translation Prize in 1992. The Book of J stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for many weeks.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent anthology of thoughtful and well-written pieces by contemporary authors revealing their experiences with and subsequent importance of the Bible as they knew and retain it.