Sun Dancing: Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery and How Celtic Spirituality Influenced the World

Anyone who visits Ireland's haunting Skellig Islands asks themselves the same question: What have life must have been like for the incredibly dedicated monks who, for hundreds of years, inhabited one of the most isolated, forbidding, harshest, difficult places on earth?Moorhouse answers this question well with a brilliantly conceived historical novel, which explores not only how these men lived, but also why they chose such a difficult life. The picture Moorhouse paints of daily life is detailed and, one has to conclude, highly accurate. Even more moving, though, are the characters he develops and the insights into what must have been in the minds of men who sacrificed all for a faith that was tested 24 hours a day.Unlike many historical novels, Sun Dancing is not overly simplistic, its characters are not flat and transparent. What could possibly drive men to survive near starvation, Viking raids, a brutal climate, and isolation that would drive many mad? Read this book, and you will begin to understand.It is not a book about Ireland; it is a book about what human beings will do--and endure--in the name of their faith. Highly recommended.

Who would ever connect the title SUN DANCING with Irish Monasticism lived out on what has the be one of the bleakest, most forbidding islands in the world? The book is a riveting story of how monks lived on that island and the scholarly evidence to prove that the story is pretty much what happened at that time. It was a much more severe type of monasticism that developed independently of traditional Western monasticism based on the Rule of St. Benedict.A must read for those looking for heroes that live by deep faith.

I picked up this book in the spirit of an upcoming visit to the country of Ireland. The first half of the book are short stories of the monks at various time periods on the Skellig itself. These stories are ones that may have happened, but are not entirely factual. The second half goes into the evidence that we have about life on the Skellig portrayed in the first part. Though the book was an enjoyable read, I do feel the format would have been better, if a story was then broken up by a chapter with the facts. This way the historical evidence spoke about in chapter 2 does not come several chapters later. Overall, it did give me an appreciation of medieval life on the Skellig/Monastic life in Ireland of the time. I hope to visit Skellig Micheal soon!

I don't have a review - the book came on time, it is in good shape --- I have always had good luck with books fromAmazon - - - -Actualy - there is a problem with a book I sent for at the same time - I checked for it and it says that it will becoming on Oct. 1st??? Naturally I have forgotten the title and the author - <The swearing Mommy? The author isIan ??????-he writes for The New Yorker, the Shouts & Murmurs section----

This is a wonderful book, dealing both in a well studied histoical fiction, and then for the second half the actual historical information. Wonderful add to my collection.

Read this as a meditation on early Celtic spirituality. The author's imagination has captured something precious. Those anonymous monks would have denied it, but they were giants of prayer.

Thoroughly engaging. This book explains a lot about humanity...then and now.

Bought this for a class. Very interesting read. Probably should pick it up again.

This book is fantastic. For anyone who is interested in Skellig Michael, this is a must! From the moment I received it, I could not put it down. It is so well written and transports you into the lives of the monks who lived on Skellig Michael for over 600 years, offering different stories through the years from the first monks to step foot on the Skellig to the last, weaving in historical fact. The first half is beautifully written fiction and the second half is the historical evidence for the events used to shape the stories in the first part. I absolutely love this book!