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"An illuminating biography of the minimalist poet Robert Lax, a man who embraced simplicity, humility, and poverty and found the pure joy, peace and love he had long sought. Pure Act tells the story of poet Robert Lax, whose quest to live a true life as both an artist and a spiritual seeker inspired Thomas Merton, Jack Kerouac, William Maxwell and a host of other writers, artists and ordinary people. Known in the U.S. primarily as Merton's best friend and in Europe as a daringly original avant-garde poet, Lax left behind a promising New York writing career to travel with a circus, live among immigrants in post-war Marseilles and settle on a series of remote Greek islands where he learned and recorded the simple wisdom of the local people. Born a Jew, he became a Catholic and found the authentic community he sought in Greek Orthodox fishermen and sponge divers. In his early life, as he alternated working at the New Yorker, writing screenplays in Hollywood and editing a Paris literary journal with studying philosophy, serving the poor in Harlem and living in a sanctuary high in the French Alps, Lax pursued an approach to life he called pure act--a way of living in the moment that was both spontaneous and practiced, God-inspired and self-chosen. By devoting himself to simplicity, poverty and prayer, he expanded his capacity for peace, joy and love while producing distinctive poetry of such stark beauty critics called him "one of America's greatest experimental poets" and "one of the new 'saints' of the avant-garde." Written by a writer who met Lax in Greece when he was a young seeker himself and visited him regularly over fifteen years, Pure Act is an intimate look at an extraordinary but little-known life. Much more than just a biography, it's a tale of adventure, an exploration of friendship, an anthology of wisdom, and a testament to the liberating power of living an uncommon life"--
"A biography of experimental poet and spiritual seeker Robert Lax, who inspired Thomas Merton, Jack Kerouac and many others. Using information and stories drawn from journal entries, letters, interviews and the author's personal recollections, the book chronicles the development of Lax's distinctive poetic style and a spontaneous, spiritual approach to life he called pure act"--
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Previews available in: English
Subjects
Authorship, Poetry, Biography, American Poets, Lax, robert, 1915-2000, Poets, biography, Poetry, authorship, RELIGION / Spirituality, POETRY / Inspirational & Religious, RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic, New York Times reviewed, RELIGION, Christianity, Catholic, Inspirational & Religious, SpiritualityPeople
Robert LaxTimes
20th centuryShowing 4 featured editions. View all 4 editions?
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Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax
2015, Fordham University Press
in English
0823276821 9780823276820
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Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax
2015, Fordham University Press
in English
0823268020 9780823268023
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Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax
2015, Fordham University Press
in English
0823268039 9780823268030
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Feedback?April 28, 2022 | Edited by AgentSapphire | Removed incorrect IA ID. |
March 17, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
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