Review: Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Review: Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life

Henri J.M. Nouwen

Convergent

2016

Gabrielle Earnshaw spent fifteen years sorting through the correspondence of Henri Nouwen and has edited this first volume released to “commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Henri’s death in 1996.” (x), and since it is she that edited this book, that is the only thing I believe can be discussed since the letters themselves were written as just that---letters, private coorespondence. Her explanations and insights are found throughout and help the reader understand the circumstances surrounding each set of communications that Nouwen wrote. Her efforts were aided by a close friend of Nouwen, Sue Mosteller, to whom the book is dedicated. She called the book a “…spiritual autobiography.” (346)

I have enjoyed reading this book, and although I have not finished it totally I do recommend this one. I’ve found collections of letters or published diaries help me understand their author so much more than any biography has. For those that want to know Henri Nouwen better this is probably a great place to start.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

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