The way of life of the fourth-century Desert Fathers, with its emphasis on solitude, silence and unceasing prayer, has inspired many modern spiritual writers. Why do the Desert Fathers have so much to say to us? To answer this question, Sister Benedicta presents some of the best and most illuminating stories and sayings from the desert. Readers will find spiritual wisdom, along with sharp humour and startling insight into human nature. SISTER BENEDICTA WARD SLG is Reader in the History of Christian Spirituality at the University of Oxford and a supernumerary Fellow of Harris Manchester College. She has written a number of books on early monasticism and on the Middle Ages, and is one of the world's leading writers on the legacy of the Desert Fathers. She is a member of the Sisters of the Love of God, an Anglican religious community in Oxford.