The studies in this book were originally given as a series of talks and that flow remains with them throughout this short but nonetheless insightful and considered work. The subject, so well covered, is mysticism, but more importantly in the first chapter it is the fire of that mysticism, the imagery and power of flame and light and dark, the living spark that enthuses through the mystic words of Catherine of Siena, John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart and Teresa of Avila, with forays into others such as the scientist Blaise Pascal. In the second chapter we encounter Bernard of Clairvaux and the wonder and experience that is the Word, it's a lovely chapter both on Bernard and on preaching as experience. Finally we end with a short but lovely chapter on the Dominican tradition of contemplative prayer. All in all this is a lovely little book of insights on what mysticism and contemplation have to show us today, and indeed how much they have already influenced us at heart.