cover image The World and the Bo Tree

The World and the Bo Tree

Helen Bevington. Duke University Press, $22.95 (211pp) ISBN 978-0-8223-1165-2

Bevington, English professor emeritus at Duke University, captures minds and hearts here as, writing with grace and lethally sharp wit, she ruminates on why ``travel is of infinite worth to her.'' With life and earth itself seeming to the author to be abused past saving, she searched the world for occasions to rejoice in art created by humans (Michelangelo's David ) and by nature (the northern lights). Bevington's ultimate goal, however, was personal peace, which brought her to the banks of the Ganges to the bo tree, descended from the tree under which Buddha sat and warned against greed, ignorance and anger. There is also much spirited humor in the book, if a little crankiness, when Bevington takes on easy targets like the Reagans and posturing hosts on PBS. (Oct.)