A History of Silence

Silence is not simply the absence of noise. It is within us, in that inner citadel which great writers, thinkers, scholars and people of faith have cultivated over the centuries. Today, when noise is everywhere, distinguished historian Alain Corbin goes back to a time when speech was rare and precious. Silence, prerequisite for contemplation, reverie and prayer, is that private space out of which speech emerges. It characterises our most intimate and sacred spaces, from private bedrooms to grand cathedrals – those vast reservoirs of silence. Philosophersand novelists have long sought solitude and inspiration in mountains and forests. Yetdespite the centrality of silence to some of our most intense experiences, thetransformations of the twentieth century have gradually diminished its value. Today,raucous urban spaces and a continual bombardment from different media pressure us into constant activity. We are losing a sense of our inner selves, a process which is changing the very nature of the individual. The aim of this book is to rediscover the wonder of silence, and with this a richer experience of life. Drawing on works by writers, artists and thinkers who treasured silence over the centuries, it is an invitation to meditation and to introspection. With his predilection for the elusive, Corbin calls us to listen to another history.