At the time of his death in 1996 Henri Nouwen was already one of the most popular spiritual writers in the world. Through more than fifty books he touched countless people with his compelling interpretation of Christian faith and the gospel. In part his impact came from his willingness to draw deeply on his own experience, inviting readers to share his joys, his anguish, and his spiritual journey.
That journey led him from his home in Holland to America; from a series of prestigious academic posts to a Trappist monastery, to the poor of Latin America, and finally to Canada, where he found his final home in a L’Arche community devoted to the care of handicapped adults. Nouwen’s life was a spiritual text that reflected the very themes he shared in his writings: the struggle between intimacy, community, and solitude; the gospel challenge of 'downward mobility'; the question of how to make of one’s life and death a gift to others; discovering the face of Christ in the world; realizing our own identity as God’s beloved. Both for devoted fans of Nouwen’s books and those discovering him for the first time, this lavishly illustrated biography is the best introduction to his life and vision.