Ruysbroeck and the Mystics: with selections from Ruysbroeck

Maeterlinck, the Nobel-winning playwright known for symbolist dramas like Pelléas et Mélisande, turned to medieval mysticism in this 1897 study. He introduces readers to Jean van Ruysbroeck, the 14th-century Flemish mystic whose radical teachings on divine love and spiritual union influenced generations of contemplatives. Through Maeterlinck's own luminous commentary and carefully selected passages from Ruysbroeck's visionary texts, the book reveals a spiritual vision that remains startlingly fresh. The mystic describes the soul's journey toward God with an erotic intensity that transcends conventional religious language; his understanding of contemplative prayer as a kind of holy dying to self anticipates modern mystical theology. This volume renders the medieval master's most profound works accessible, preserving their spiritual electricity while providing essential context for readers unfamiliar with the contemplative tradition. It speaks to anyone drawn to the direct experience of the divine over institutional religion.