Simone Weil : An Apprenticeship in Attention

This work is a portrait of Simone Weil, (1909-1943) the French Jewish writer, drawn to the Church. The writings of Simone Weil (1909-43), the French Jewish writer, have been hugely influential and are still frequently quoted and referred to today. This clear and lucid exposition of her life and work shows how Weil is truly a prophet for our age and an indispensable source of encouragement to all those who prowl at the frontiers of religion. From an early age Weil was attracted to Bolshevism, became an anarchist and helped Trotsky. She also worked as a mechanic in the Renault factory in Paris, and joined the International Red Brigade to fight Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Through all this Weil developed a theology and philosophy which speaks most directly to people today. Deeply imbued with agnosticism and anti-clericalism, she nevertheless experienced a profound religious conversion at the Benedictine Monastery of Solemnes in France. Christ 'took hold of her', although she never formally converted to the Christian faith to which she was so deeply attracted.