Lifting the Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God
From the moment that Jesus Christ first proclaimed the Kingdom of God, he appealed to our imagination. He made that appeal through the parables, the paradoxes of the Gospel, his miracles, and those moments when the heavens opened and the ordinary was transfigured. In this book, the poet Malcolm Guite explores how the creative work of poets and other artists can begin to lift the veil, kindling our imaginations for Christ.
“A small treasure-house of beauty and imagination, helping us in turn to imagine God’s world and God’s love with multi-faceted and grateful wisdom.”
— N. T. Wright, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, University of St Andrews“Bravo for marrying two ‘languages’ in an enchantingly sublime dance that invites a wider audience into the imagination and wonder conversation than the usual poet’s corner. Lifting the Veil brims with beautifully written as well as visually engaging poetry. Deeply affecting, classic, and accessible to even non-poetry readers, one will quickly discover the Gospel-rooted complexities of Coleridge and Grünewald (to name a few) while nimbly avoiding the sometimes-daunting literary arrangements of the academy. This compilation achieves accessibility without sacrificing an ounce of depth—a rare feat. High regards to the fabulous curation of illustrations. These images add a pleasant surprise to readers who approach with curiosity and openness. I’ll be recommending this book to visual artists and poetry lovers alike.”
—Lawan Glasscock, former executive director of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)