The Seven Storey Mountain

The Seven Storey Mountain: An Autobiography of Faith (1948) is Thomas Merton’s account of his early life and spiritual journey toward becoming a monk at the age of 26. Merton wrote the book in two-hour daily stints of personal time in a monastery, and it was published when he was in his early thirties. Although the book focuses on Merton’s spiritual life and includes long passages of religious reflection, the book is conceived as an autobiography: Merton recounts his early childhood years in France, his relationships with his parents, his college years, and so on. The Seven Storey Mountain is considered a classic in the literature of Catholic spirituality, but also brought Merton mainstream fame beyond religious circles. This guide refers to the 1998 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company Fiftieth Anniversary Edition.

Content Warning: The book referenced in this guide contains death, war, poverty, gambling, profanity, and racial discussion.

Plot Summary

The book’s title is a reference to Dante’s Divine Comedy, which describes Mount Purgatory with seven tiers that correspond to sins that should be purged on the spiritual journey toward the top of the mountain, called the earthly paradise. The journey is an allegory for the Christian life.