The writing in The Seven Storey Mountain seems to be multi-level. From the very first page, Merton is not merely writing about past events, persons, places and things, historically. Though very much a part of the narrative of the autobiography, this "natural" level is only one level. There is also the very important interpretive level of his writing which, for Merton, is essentially "spiritual." Merton writes the autobiography from his monastic perspective, from his new position as a monk. Thus, the past and its "naturalness" are interpreted "spiritually." And yet, neither level of writing can stand alone.

One result of this two-dimensional writing is that the reader of The Seven Storey Mountain may sense a peculiar incompleteness about the book: a lack of development, a kind of emptiness as if something is missing. So, for example, in the matter of Merton's writing vocation and his artistry, the reader...