THE THOUGHT of Thomas Merton – energetic, argumentative, irresistibly curious – turning 100 is incongruous. It is difficult to imagine him as an old man. Born on 31 January 1915, his death in Bangkok in 1968 swept him away in his heyday. It is the image of him then, posing for photographs with a youthful-looking Dalai Lama, that is fixed in our minds. This volume by the former dean of St Paul’s is one of many brought out to celebrate him during his centenary year. Moses’ first chapter, “The Fascination of the Man”, sums up his approach. His admiration for Merton is manifest throughout. He has read every jot and tittle Merton wrote and he draws much of this material into his study. Yet although he stresses his subject’s humanity, the Merton he pres