How Long to Read The Imitation of Christ

How Long Does it Take to Read The Imitation of Christ?

It takes the average reader 3 hours and 47 minutes to read The Imitation of Christ by William C. Creasy

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

The Imitation of Christ has appeared in more editions and in more languages than any other book except the Bible. Samuel Johnson once remarked to Bowell that it "must be a good book, as the world has opened its arms to receive it." Others have praised it as well, including Thomas Carlyle, George Eliot, Thomas De Quincey, and Matthew Arnold. Among the religious, St. Ignatius Loyola translated it, and Pope John Paul I was said to have been reading it the night that he died. It has been standard fare in religious training and personal devotion for centuries. Yet today, few people know the Imitation and those who do more often than not think it hopelessly out of date, a pre-Vatican II relic, full of contempt for the world and self-loathing. It is a curious state of affairs, and one that reveals more about a contemporary audience's response to the book than it does about the book itself. When a contemporary reader encounters a line such as "this is the highest wisdom: through contempt of the world to aspire to the kingdom of heaven," his response is a very different one from that of a fifteenth - or nineteenth-century reader. For an "informed response" (as Stanley Fish would say) to the contemptus mundi theme, the reader must draw deeply on a vast complex of literary, linguistic, historical, and theological knowledge. Creasy's translation of the Imitation strives to recreate a text that provides an analogous experience to that of the fifteenth-century reader. Relying heavily on reader-response theory, he incorporates an "informed reader's" response into the text itself. Where possible, the text echoes both the deep structure and the surface structure of the Latin-even to the point of replicating sentence structures and rhetorical devices while avoiding any distortion of the reader's experience. Although the language and style of his translation has been crafted for modern readers, the fervor and power of the original text have not been lost. Dr. Creasy's work on the Imitation of Christ has become the standard translation of this spiritual classic, bringing it to life for a new generation of readers. Book jacket.

How long is The Imitation of Christ?

The Imitation of Christ by William C. Creasy is 224 pages long, and a total of 56,896 words.

This makes it 76% the length of the average book. It also has 70% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read The Imitation of Christ Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 5 hours and 10 minutes to read The Imitation of Christ aloud.

What Reading Level is The Imitation of Christ?

The Imitation of Christ is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy The Imitation of Christ?

The Imitation of Christ by William C. Creasy is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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