Ship of Fools: Book Recommendation Request

Thread: Book Recommendation Request Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

I hope this is in the right place. I thought the people most likely to have answers might be found here. I have an windfall in book tokens. They are UK National Book Tokens.

I'm thinking I would like to buy good translations of early Christian writers, particularly on prayer and the spiritual life. I am thinking of the Patristic Fathers, (not Augustine of Hippo). Particularly, Origen, Irenaeus of Lyons, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom and also people like Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian.

I'm looking for the writings that have stood the test of time, not things from the culture of their times that we would not now see as having anything useful to offer, for example the anti Jewish writings.

I've just chosen these names because I have come across quotes from them a lot, or read about them. Other recommendations are welcome. Can anyone recommend any books?

Posted by Hart (# 4991) on :

The Classics of Western Spirituality series (published by Paulist) is generally pretty good, both in terms of the translations and notes / introductions they offer, and their choice of what to publish.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

Thanks Hart, I shall investigate this.

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :

Hosting
I might have a quick discussion with my fellow hosts ... this may have better traction elsewhere ...

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :

Although dated (19th C) - and with a slight (!) translation/selection bias, The Ante Nicene fathers are just a wee tad useful.

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Yes indeed!

Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :

Check out John Climacus' Ladder of Divine Ascent. Read the bit about the penitentiary very critically, but anything read, year in and year out, in Orthodox monastic refectories during Lent is bound to bear rewards.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

Thank you Zappa and TSA. I will look into these.

Posted by 3rdFooter (# 9751) on :

Thyme
It is not the anti-nicene texts but you might consider Vladimir Lossky's "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" (pub James Clarke & co).

It explains where the early fathers were coming from and draws heavily on patristic sources.

I'm about half way through and learning a lot.

3F

Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :

I think 3rdFooter means ante-Nicene Fathers.

Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:
I think 3rdFooter means ante-Nicene Fathers.

As opposed to these anti-Nicean fathers.

Posted by 3rdFooter (# 9751) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Prester John:

quote:
Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:
I think 3rdFooter means ante-Nicene Fathers.
As opposed to these anti-Nicean fathers.

Spelling, schmelling.....my bad

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

How about [URL=http://www.openisbn.com/isbn/9780809133
369/]Silent Voices, Sacred Lives: Women's Readings For The Liturgical Year?[/URL]

The readings go back to the period you want,
but the people quoted are women. IMHO, it's
really good. The linked page has links to
book reviews, too.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

{Sorry; connection dropped several times
while I was editing. Let's try this again!}

How about "Silent Voices, Sacred Lives: Women's Readings For The Liturgical Year"?

The readings go back to the period you want,but the people quoted are women. IMHO, it's really good. The linked page has links to book reviews, too.

Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Thyme:
I'm thinking I would like to buy good translations of early Christian writers, particularly on prayer and the spiritual life. I am thinking of the Patristic Fathers, (not Augustine of Hippo). Particularly, Origen, Irenaeus of Lyons, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom and also people like Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian.

There's a complete and excellent translation of John Cassian's famous Conferences available: here. If you simply search for this book series with the term "Ancient Christian Writers" on amazon, you will find many other books that should fit your interests. For example, the top search result for me was Against the Heresies by Irenaeus.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

Ooh, thank you everyone that is all fabulous.

[ 10. January 2014, 09:23: Message edited by: Thyme ]

Posted by Custard (# 5402) on :

Gregory the Great's Book of Pastoral Rule is a classic, but a bit later.

Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Thyme:
I'm thinking I would like to buy good translations of early Christian writers, particularly on prayer and the spiritual life. I am thinking of the Patristic Fathers,…. Particularly, Origen, Irenaeus of Lyons, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom and also people like Evagrius Ponticus and John Cassian.

For Evagrius, try this: Evagrius of Pontus: The Greek Ascetic Corpus. Just can't get enough of those Eight Thoughts!

[ 13. January 2014, 16:27: Message edited by: The Silent Acolyte ]

Posted by 3rdFooter (# 9751) on :

If time is on your side, you could get Dobson's Learn New Testament Greek (PiQuant editions).

Then you could make a go at the original texts [Yipee]

Even a smatering can be helpful when reading commentries and the like that reference the particular word in greek to emphasise the meaning.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

Thanks for the Evagrius suggestion. I found one online a while ago but it was a difficult translation.

Regarding the NT Greek, that is interesting. I already have some books on OT Greek which a friend gave me when she inherited a small library. I've found them quite useful. I can't remember if one was a Dobson but it rings a bell. Most of my books are packed up pending a move.

I do have a smattering of modern (demotic) Greek, although I am a bit (very) rusty and have an NT in the demotic. I find it hard to keep up the study when I am not going regularly to Greece. I am sadly behind on my project to read through it.

I've also got a Bible which I bought at a monastery bookshop in Greece which has two versions of old greek in it. Unfortunately my Greek is nowhere near good enough to work out what they are and how they differ. I tried asking people in Greece but it was all too difficult for them and for me!

I must get on with all this again when we move and I unpack all the books. I'm hoping to start visiting Greece again soon.

I hope to set aside a day soon to go through all the suggestions and make some decisions.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

I've ordered some books! There were some problems due to various restrictions on where and how I could spend the particular brand of book tokens, which ruled out nearly all online outlets and any offline ones which I couldn't physically visit.

This, together with the somewhat specialist/niche nature of the books, and the price at the outlets where I could buy them meant I didn't have a completely free choice.

I have ended up with:

'Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church' Vladimir Lossky

'Ladder of Divine Ascent' - Classics of Western Spirituality Series No.34 John Climacus

'Tertullian, Origen, and Cassian on Prayer: Essential Ancient Christian Writings' Pubd Eremitical Press.

The last wasn't on this thread but I came across it while searching and it was as close as I could get within the various constraints.

I also have a lot of lovely online resources from the thread which I have bookmarked.

So this should keep me busy for a while. I've asked for Amazon tokens for my birthday, so I can get some that I couldn't get with the other book tokens, but which are available at a reasonable price on Amazon. [Cool]

Thank you everyone.

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :

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