The only biography to receive awards from both the Association of Catholic Publishers and the Catholic Press Association in 2016. A companion piece to Thomas Merton's bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain, Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax tells the story of Merton's best friend and early spiritual inspiration. Written by a close friend of Lax, Pure Act gives an intimate view of a friendship and a life that affected Merton in profound ways. It was Lax, a daringly original poet himself, who encouraged Merton to begin writing poetry and Lax who told him he should desire to...

Born in May 1940 it was not a good start for Michael McGregor and his mother alone in the East End of London and it got even worse when the blitz began a few months later. Where the family were living over 40% of the houses had been badly damaged or destroyed. After the family home was bombed, they were re-located to nearby Dagenham. And things didn't get that much better when the war eventually ended. Greatly influenced by his East End roots and background Mike spent the greater part of his teenage years at work and play in those places most familiar to him. It was an amazing journey, a kind...