Silent Lamp Thomas Merton St

In what he calls a ``reflective biography,'' Shannon, a priest and Merton scholar, focuses on significant moments in the famous monk's life. Thomas Merton (1915-1968), a Cistercian monk, became a bestselling author with the 1948 publication of the autobiographical The Seven Storeyok Mountain and evolved into a major religious voice of this century. Poet, peace activist, celebrator of Eastern mysticism, Merton wrote prolifically and traveled extensively. Charting the monk's journeys within a historical context, Shannon also traces Merton's internal conflicts over his role as a contemplative and his sense of mission in the world. Shannon is an authoritative guide through the controversies, personal flaws and inconsistencies in the life of an imposing figure described as a free spirit ``in touch with the universe.'' Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)