in This Vivid And Deeply Felt Collection Of Essays, Ron Hansen Talks About His Novels, Childhood, Family, And Mentors Such As John Gardner. He Explores Prayer, Stigmata, Twentieth-century Martyrs, And The Eucharist. A Profile Of His Grandfather, A "tough-as-nails, Brook-no-guff Colorado Rancher," Finds A Place Alongside A Wonderfully Informative Portrait Of Saint Ignatius Of Loyola. A Brilliant Reading Of A Story By Leo Tolstoy Follows An Appreciation Of The Poetry Of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

surprisingly Intimate, a Stay Against Confusion Brings Together The Literary And Religious Impulses That Inform The Life Of One Of Our Most Gifted Fiction Writers.