Description:
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars an experiment in healing
Last night I finished reading a remarkable book, "The Crossway," Guy Stagg's account of his ten-month, 5500 kilometer walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem (and a bit further, to Mar Saba monastery in the desert east of Bethlehem). For Stagg, the long hike was an experiment in healing following an attempted suicide. When I was writing "The Road to Emmaus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life," I read many volumes on the topic of God-haunted journeys, but none better than "The Crossway."A brief extract: "Despite the decline of religion in Europe, it was still possible to cross the continent like a medieval pilgrim: travelling on foot, stopping at shrines, and supported by charity. Still possible to find comfort in pilgrim rites, even if the belief was gone. So maybe decline was also evidence of endurance, and loss the price we pay for surviving. Sitting in the basilica [of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection] ... I wondered whether this was true for my own life too. Do we gather up mistakes like mementos, until they form the true texture of experience? And build ourselves stronger from the regrets collected year after year? Perhaps that was the lesson of the pilgrimage, for though I had hoped to heal myself by walking, any recovery came on the far side of collapse."
4.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable journey from a haunting past to an uncertain future full of promise.
An extraordinary journey of one man's search for religion and recovery along the oldest pilgrimage paths from Canterbury to Jerusalem, The Crossway is a day-to-day travelogue of Tom Stagg's peregrinations that led him to the holiest places in the world; all with God's providence because without financial means, he needed to rely on the kindness and benevolence of strangers, most of whom would become friends.Still haunted by his past, Stagg sought healing and the true meaning of religion and despite the obstacles that confronted him from his past and present, he persevered in his unswerving mission to reach Jerusalem.As I read through his daily accounts, I traveled vicariously through some of the most extraordinary places on earth, some of the holiest places I long to visit someday; and learned firsthand of the people, the places, the history, the customs and some nerve-racking civil unrest in the Mideast. Stagg even managed to pepper humor throughout his encounters with his cast of characters he met along the way including my favorite, Max from St. Maurice monastery, and the tale of his nontraditional deep-fat fryer and chips. ;) Throughout the book, I found myself researching nearly every stopping place, following him on the map as he made his way from country to country and monastery to monastery.In the end, I believe he found peace and has come to terms with his past. And although it's there to remind him of where he's been, I believe he has found a new direction to travel in this pilgrimage we call life. Ultreia, Tom!I strongly recommend this to all pilgrims of the world.
5.0 out of 5 stars This will be a classic
The Crossway is one of the best walking travel memoirs I've ever read and I think I have read them all.
4.0 out of 5 stars A story to get lost in
I really enjoyed how this story was told, with the author adding his thoughts and feeling through out the narration.
3.0 out of 5 stars For those searching for themselves, rather than adventuring in the world
I came to this book as someone interested in long-distance walking, in acts of physical and mental endurance, and found the story somewhat lacking in the details that might have made it more intriguing. For example, Stagg appears to hike with printed maps rather than electronic, but he says nothing about this. In passing he notes the inclusion in his gear of a tent but says nothing about how frequently he is required to camp, how he scouts out locations, and what problems he encounters sleeping rough. Reading his account you might imagine that you can just start walking, converse quite easily and happily with locals in at least a dozen different languages, and find a monastery with welcoming monks and a warm meal at the end of each’s day walk, or least an empty glade or river bank to throw up your tent.I won’t go into the details of the story as it’s covered in other reviews. I found it absorbing at the beginning, but my engagement began to flag midway. The lore and history of Christian monasticism is somewhat interesting, but after repeated encounters with frequently deranged monsatics you realize there is a sad sameness to their experience from which there is little to be learned. Like the author, they spend more time engaged with their inner lives than the world around them. Stagg is honest in ending his story as most such endeavors in fact end, with a fizzle rather than a bang. There is no redemption or salvific insight, only the realization, through the accumulated kindness shown him across the length of his voyage, that humans are capable of great charity.
A PERSONAL JOURNEY
I enjoyed this book immensely. I do not agree at all that it's a book about "Me, me, me, me, me..." but it's quite clear from the start tat this is a PERSONAL memoir. The author took the time to inform himself on so many thngs: history, theology, liturgy, the monastic life, politics and much else besides. The language was vivid, a broad vocabulary, magnnificent turns of phrase, poetic without being purple, a delight to read. It was also a very personal journey and the relationships and engagements en route were recounted with empathy. From almost the beginning identified with the author, felt almost protective and supportive. Not just a latter-day Patrick Leigh Fermor, this man had courage and will power, curiosity and openness.A note for the audio book. The pilgrim's patron is Benoît-Joseph LABRE, not Labré, there is no accute accent on the final e.
This book held my interest throughout and this younr new author has a beautiful way with words.
This book depicts a pilgrimage by a young man who had obviously experienced some difficulties in his personal life. He was attempting to find himself as he walked to find Jerusalem. His story held my interest throughout. Perhaps not an ardent Christian I felt he was attempting to find God and sought out shelter and sustenance in various religious communities along his path. He enjoyed meeting all people with whom he came into contact. Each had his own story. The reader learns a little about the author's personal story and hoped to find out more, but the ending of this book has left room for that another time. There were some brilliant descriptions within this book. Colours, places, emotions were depicted like fresh paintings and I enjoyed his beautiful use of words. This is his first book. I look forward to further books by Guy Stagg..
Pilgrim's Delight!
As a pilgrim and a reader, this book was a treat. I enjoyed every step of Stagg's journey, and especially the historical insights. Thanks!
The Crossway
Guy Stagg's 'The Crossway' is an account of the author's pilgrimage journey from Canterbury to Jerusalem which he began in the winter of 2013. After suffering a nervous breakdown and experiencing a frightening dependence on extreme levels of alcohol, Mr Stagg (although a non-believer) felt that by travelling by foot along the paths taken by many pilgrims before him, he would be able to "mend" himself. Initially intending to walk the route of 'La Via Francigena' - which travels from Canterbury to Rome - the author asked himself, why stop at Rome? Why not Rome, Istanbul, Jerusalem? "That was it" he tells us "That was my pilgrimage."Leaving home on 1st January and travelling across the Alps in midwinter, Mr Stagg arrives in Rome at the time of the inauguration of a new Pope; he then becomes caught up in rebellious mass protests in Istanbul; has second thoughts about continuing his pilgrimage, but pushes on; survives a terrorist attack in Lebanon; and finally arrives in Jerusalem. And it is in the Holy Land, looking for a bed for the night, that he is surprised to be turned away from a monastery in the Kidron Valley - he tells us "I have visited almost a hundred monasteries and never once been turned away - until I came to the Holy Land." But does Guy Stagg find what he is looking for?Part memoir, part travelogue, part history and more, this book is filled with stories of the author's encounters with the interesting people he met along the way (monks, nuns, priests, fellow pilgrims, et al) and, in this way, the reader learns snippets of information about the saints, martyrs and missionaries who travelled along the same routes before him. A well-written, well-documented account and a story that reminds one of the quotation: 'It is the journey, not the arrival matters', this book made for an absorbing read and is one I can recommend.4 Stars.
Fabulous Book
I'm just finishing reading this book and I'll be sorry when I get to the end because it's fascinating. I ordered the book after seeing Guy Stagg being interviewed one morning on TV. When he said he wasn't religious I thought this is the book for me, and I wasn't wrong. Guy writes about his travels from a non religious viewpoint. It's fascinating reading about the different countries he walked through, the people he met, the places he stayed in and the stories of crusades, pilgrimages, priories, abbeys and the history of religions and beliefs in each country. Absolutely fascinating, I couldn't put I down. I would recommend it to anybody, especially people like me who are interested in the histories of religion but aren't particularly religious.
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The Crossway
AED14100
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
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Visit the Picador Store
The Crossway
AED14100
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars an experiment in healing
Last night I finished reading a remarkable book, "The Crossway," Guy Stagg's account of his ten-month, 5500 kilometer walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem (and a bit further, to Mar Saba monastery in the desert east of Bethlehem). For Stagg, the long hike was an experiment in healing following an attempted suicide. When I was writing "The Road to Emmaus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life," I read many volumes on the topic of God-haunted journeys, but none better than "The Crossway."A brief extract: "Despite the decline of religion in Europe, it was still possible to cross the continent like a medieval pilgrim: travelling on foot, stopping at shrines, and supported by charity. Still possible to find comfort in pilgrim rites, even if the belief was gone. So maybe decline was also evidence of endurance, and loss the price we pay for surviving. Sitting in the basilica [of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection] ... I wondered whether this was true for my own life too. Do we gather up mistakes like mementos, until they form the true texture of experience? And build ourselves stronger from the regrets collected year after year? Perhaps that was the lesson of the pilgrimage, for though I had hoped to heal myself by walking, any recovery came on the far side of collapse."
4.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable journey from a haunting past to an uncertain future full of promise.
An extraordinary journey of one man's search for religion and recovery along the oldest pilgrimage paths from Canterbury to Jerusalem, The Crossway is a day-to-day travelogue of Tom Stagg's peregrinations that led him to the holiest places in the world; all with God's providence because without financial means, he needed to rely on the kindness and benevolence of strangers, most of whom would become friends.Still haunted by his past, Stagg sought healing and the true meaning of religion and despite the obstacles that confronted him from his past and present, he persevered in his unswerving mission to reach Jerusalem.As I read through his daily accounts, I traveled vicariously through some of the most extraordinary places on earth, some of the holiest places I long to visit someday; and learned firsthand of the people, the places, the history, the customs and some nerve-racking civil unrest in the Mideast. Stagg even managed to pepper humor throughout his encounters with his cast of characters he met along the way including my favorite, Max from St. Maurice monastery, and the tale of his nontraditional deep-fat fryer and chips. ;) Throughout the book, I found myself researching nearly every stopping place, following him on the map as he made his way from country to country and monastery to monastery.In the end, I believe he found peace and has come to terms with his past. And although it's there to remind him of where he's been, I believe he has found a new direction to travel in this pilgrimage we call life. Ultreia, Tom!I strongly recommend this to all pilgrims of the world.
5.0 out of 5 stars This will be a classic
The Crossway is one of the best walking travel memoirs I've ever read and I think I have read them all.
4.0 out of 5 stars A story to get lost in
I really enjoyed how this story was told, with the author adding his thoughts and feeling through out the narration.
3.0 out of 5 stars For those searching for themselves, rather than adventuring in the world
I came to this book as someone interested in long-distance walking, in acts of physical and mental endurance, and found the story somewhat lacking in the details that might have made it more intriguing. For example, Stagg appears to hike with printed maps rather than electronic, but he says nothing about this. In passing he notes the inclusion in his gear of a tent but says nothing about how frequently he is required to camp, how he scouts out locations, and what problems he encounters sleeping rough. Reading his account you might imagine that you can just start walking, converse quite easily and happily with locals in at least a dozen different languages, and find a monastery with welcoming monks and a warm meal at the end of each’s day walk, or least an empty glade or river bank to throw up your tent.I won’t go into the details of the story as it’s covered in other reviews. I found it absorbing at the beginning, but my engagement began to flag midway. The lore and history of Christian monasticism is somewhat interesting, but after repeated encounters with frequently deranged monsatics you realize there is a sad sameness to their experience from which there is little to be learned. Like the author, they spend more time engaged with their inner lives than the world around them. Stagg is honest in ending his story as most such endeavors in fact end, with a fizzle rather than a bang. There is no redemption or salvific insight, only the realization, through the accumulated kindness shown him across the length of his voyage, that humans are capable of great charity.
A PERSONAL JOURNEY
I enjoyed this book immensely. I do not agree at all that it's a book about "Me, me, me, me, me..." but it's quite clear from the start tat this is a PERSONAL memoir. The author took the time to inform himself on so many thngs: history, theology, liturgy, the monastic life, politics and much else besides. The language was vivid, a broad vocabulary, magnnificent turns of phrase, poetic without being purple, a delight to read. It was also a very personal journey and the relationships and engagements en route were recounted with empathy. From almost the beginning identified with the author, felt almost protective and supportive. Not just a latter-day Patrick Leigh Fermor, this man had courage and will power, curiosity and openness.A note for the audio book. The pilgrim's patron is Benoît-Joseph LABRE, not Labré, there is no accute accent on the final e.
This book held my interest throughout and this younr new author has a beautiful way with words.
This book depicts a pilgrimage by a young man who had obviously experienced some difficulties in his personal life. He was attempting to find himself as he walked to find Jerusalem. His story held my interest throughout. Perhaps not an ardent Christian I felt he was attempting to find God and sought out shelter and sustenance in various religious communities along his path. He enjoyed meeting all people with whom he came into contact. Each had his own story. The reader learns a little about the author's personal story and hoped to find out more, but the ending of this book has left room for that another time. There were some brilliant descriptions within this book. Colours, places, emotions were depicted like fresh paintings and I enjoyed his beautiful use of words. This is his first book. I look forward to further books by Guy Stagg..
Pilgrim's Delight!
As a pilgrim and a reader, this book was a treat. I enjoyed every step of Stagg's journey, and especially the historical insights. Thanks!
The Crossway
Guy Stagg's 'The Crossway' is an account of the author's pilgrimage journey from Canterbury to Jerusalem which he began in the winter of 2013. After suffering a nervous breakdown and experiencing a frightening dependence on extreme levels of alcohol, Mr Stagg (although a non-believer) felt that by travelling by foot along the paths taken by many pilgrims before him, he would be able to "mend" himself. Initially intending to walk the route of 'La Via Francigena' - which travels from Canterbury to Rome - the author asked himself, why stop at Rome? Why not Rome, Istanbul, Jerusalem? "That was it" he tells us "That was my pilgrimage."Leaving home on 1st January and travelling across the Alps in midwinter, Mr Stagg arrives in Rome at the time of the inauguration of a new Pope; he then becomes caught up in rebellious mass protests in Istanbul; has second thoughts about continuing his pilgrimage, but pushes on; survives a terrorist attack in Lebanon; and finally arrives in Jerusalem. And it is in the Holy Land, looking for a bed for the night, that he is surprised to be turned away from a monastery in the Kidron Valley - he tells us "I have visited almost a hundred monasteries and never once been turned away - until I came to the Holy Land." But does Guy Stagg find what he is looking for?Part memoir, part travelogue, part history and more, this book is filled with stories of the author's encounters with the interesting people he met along the way (monks, nuns, priests, fellow pilgrims, et al) and, in this way, the reader learns snippets of information about the saints, martyrs and missionaries who travelled along the same routes before him. A well-written, well-documented account and a story that reminds one of the quotation: 'It is the journey, not the arrival matters', this book made for an absorbing read and is one I can recommend.4 Stars.
Fabulous Book
I'm just finishing reading this book and I'll be sorry when I get to the end because it's fascinating. I ordered the book after seeing Guy Stagg being interviewed one morning on TV. When he said he wasn't religious I thought this is the book for me, and I wasn't wrong. Guy writes about his travels from a non religious viewpoint. It's fascinating reading about the different countries he walked through, the people he met, the places he stayed in and the stories of crusades, pilgrimages, priories, abbeys and the history of religions and beliefs in each country. Absolutely fascinating, I couldn't put I down. I would recommend it to anybody, especially people like me who are interested in the histories of religion but aren't particularly religious.
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