The Waters of Siloe

Harcourt Brace, January 1949. First Edition. Hardcover. Collectible Very Good/Good. First edition, seventh printing signed by Thomas Merton - a particularly rare item from this monk who signed books only rarely. He uses the signature 'Thomas Merton' (plausibly indicating a 1949 date to his signature, before he was ordained with his monastic name, Fr. Louis). From the private collection of Fr. Ray Ryland, a friend of Merton's. Book in Very Good condition. Dust jacket handsome and crisp, protected in a non-archival vinyl which has preserved the colors and form of the dust jacket but is not removable. Book bound in turquoise cloth, with some sunning at edges. Gold lettering and gold embossed cover of a cross with Chi-Rho and two birds. Signature on title page ' + Thomas Merton.' Pages bright and unmarked. Binding tight and square. Merton's account of monastic life, both general and personal, including 16 pages of photographs, with information about the history of the Trappists, monastic sign language, daily routine, profiles of fellow monks, and spiritual reflections. Considered the companion book to the Seven Storey Mountain. A beautiful piece of 20th century Catholic literary history, from the hand of one of its greatest writers. Family-owned bookshop in Steubenville, Ohio: BookMarx Bookstore. Books shipped within 24 hours.