Description
Book SynopsisThe Five Quintets is a mammoth poetic adventure undertaken by the celebrated poet Micheal O’Siadhail, representing the culmination of an extraordinary life’s work. The project is vast in scope, attempting nothing less than an exploration of the predicaments of Western modernity. Drawing on inspiration from T S Eliot’s Four Quartets, The Five Quintets brings the premise of Dante’s Divine Comedy into the current day. As Dante explored humanity though mythical characters, O’Siadhail focuses on the humanity of the creators of today’s dreams of perfection: scientists, artists, economists, politicians, politics, and philosophers and theologians from the past speak with each other in this extraordinarily imaginative work. The result is an unparalleled book of instruction for a troubled age. The Five Quintets retrieves and exhibits human gifts our own age may have lost to create a work ‘whose pulse draws us to love. A book of poetry in the category of the epic, the encyclopedic, and the sacred.’ (Peter Ochs, Professor of Judaic Studies, Virginia).
Trade ReviewWhatever you have planned for next weekend, change it and make space to read this swirling work of love for humanity. Your heart and mind and soul will thank you. -- Mary McAleese, President of Ireland 2007-11
O’Siadhail has always invited us to taste the rich abundance of life. Now … he spreads a lavish banquet for the ear, the intellect, and above all for the heart. -- Tom Wright
The Five Quintets unfolds slowly, the steady self-revealing of insights that catch the edge of thought —the fruit of a life in languages and words and depth of perception in wisdom. -- Justin Welby
It brings a vision of hope, an understanding about the evolution of our society in words of grace. Micheal leads us on to a road of peace. -- Jean Vanier
Daring, moving, and profoundly relevant to anyone seeking personal and public wisdom today. -- David Ford
Micheal O’Siadhail has done nothing less than give us a poetic account of that strange character called modernity. This is a beautiful book of hope because of O’Siadhail’s unrelenting passion to tell us the truth. -- Stanley Hauerwas
