Read more
Christians have been drawn to monastic life nearly as long as Christianity has existed. Dedicating themselves to prayer, meditation, and good works, men and women in many diverse times and places have been willing to abstain from marriage, sexual relations, and personal ownership to serve God singlemindedly.
In this overview of the Latin tradition, Peter King, emeritus senior lecturer of medieval history at Saint Andrew's University, leads readers quickly but deftly along the rugged monastic road from late antique Egypt to the present day, passing through spectacular expansion in medieval Europe, dissolution during the Reformation, retrenchment at the Counter Reformation, condemnation during the Enlightenment, destruction at the hands of revolutionaries, refoundation and new vigor during the nineteenth and the ecumenical twentieth centuries.
About the author
Peter King has always been interested in writing, and decided to take his interest further by writing a book during the COVID-19 lockdowns from his job as a Teaching Assistant at a primary school. Prior to working at a school, he trained as a design draughtsman, working on domestic and industrial controls.
Another passion of his is sport-Peter is a keen badminton player and golfer. He also enjoys angling and following football and cricket. Peter spends as much time with his grandchildren, who share the same interests. Being a father and a grandfather, this has given him plenty of experiences that he has been able to build into his book.
