{ "item_title" : "Desert", "item_author" : [" Martin Armstrong "], "item_description" : "Between the cultivated splendour of Alexandria and the immense silence of the Egyptian desert lies a struggle over how life should be lived. Malchus, an affluent Alexandrian wearied by luxury, romantic anguish and intellectual scepticism, turns towards the severe existence of Christian hermits. His search for inner freedom places faith and reason, bodily desire and self-command in sustained tension, transforming spiritual inquiry into an exacting personal trial. The desert offers no easy refuge. Under the guidance of the solitary Serapion, prayer, fasting and meditation are joined by the discipline of manual work, including the weaving of palm-leaf mats and baskets. Remote cells, ravines and hidden springs replace crowded feasts and cultivated gardens; heat, moonlight, animals and shifting sand sharpen the contrast between civilised refinement and ascetic solitude. Each physical detail reinforces a world in which humility must be practised rather than merely admired. Written as a prose legend, this work of Christian fiction draws its force from the meeting of visionary landscape and inward conflict. Vast sandscapes and profound silence surround questions that remain urgent: whether reason can coexist with faith, whether discipline can master desire, and whether withdrawal from comfort can lead towards genuine liberty. The wilderness becomes both a place of temptation and a demanding field of spiritual attention, rendered through vivid sensory description and the rhythms of solitary labour. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.", "item_img_path" : "https://covers1.booksamillion.com/covers/bam/9/37/778/542/9377785421_b.jpg", "price_data" : { "retail_price" : "18.99", "online_price" : "18.99", "our_price" : "18.99", "club_price" : "18.99", "savings_pct" : "0", "savings_amt" : "0.00", "club_savings_pct" : "0", "club_savings_amt" : "0.00", "discount_pct" : "10", "store_price" : "" } }

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