Desert Christians: An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism (review)

The study of Christian monasticism in the fourth and fifth centuries has importance not only for understanding the history, theology, and spirituality of the time period but also because one of the central enduring Christian institutions in both East and West arose from these beginnings. Despite this centrality, however, and even though there has been a tremendous increase in scholarship that analyzes various works or topics, especially with the relatively recent interest in the body, sexuality, and asceticism, there has not been a general treatment of the literature that survives from the formative period of monasticism. William Harmless's Desert Christians: An Introduction to the Literature of Early Monasticism fills this void. Because it does this so well, it will instantly become an indispensable work for anyone interested in ancient Christian monasticism, early Christian history and literature, and indeed the general examination of spiritual impulses that shape religion. Harmless has written a densely packed volume which, although it does achieve "introductory" status by its accessibility, nevertheless also serves as a resource for more advanced students because of its breadth and level of detail. Harmless states as his purpose: "to introduce readers to the literature by and about the desert Christians of the fourth and fifth centuries" (viii), where the "desert" is the desert of Egypt (he includes other forms of non-Egyptian monasticism in his concluding chapter, with the necessary caveat that Egypt is no longer regarded the sole "birthplace" of monasticism). Moreover, presupposing that readers have background in neither the history nor literature of the time period, Harmless wants to introduce readers to currents in scholarship and to lesser known monastic works. He wants thus both to write an accessible introduction and to include more detail than one would normally expect in a general survey. That he succeeds is due in part to the format of the book and in part to his own dedication to the subject matter from both a scholarly and spiritual perspective. Harmless is somewhat defensive on the latter point, suggesting that it is "out of fashion" to do "scholarship because of spiritual commitments" (x). While one might argue the point, it is certainly the case in terms of this work that Harmless's sympathy with the monks and their vocations and his passion for the subject matter help give the book an extra dimension and added perspective that serve to increase its usefulness both as a resource tool and teaching text.

The book is divided into five parts, and is further subdivided into chapters and appendices. The appendices in particular are useful in serving Harmless's purpose of exploring more scholarly issues and lesser known monastic works as separate discussions, rather than creating diversions within the chapters themselves. In addition, there are extensive annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter, subdivided for the major topics covered. The book begins, in Part I, by introducing the context for monastic literature: the social and religious world of fourth and fifth-century Egypt (Chapter 1) and the theological controversies about the divinity and incarnation of Christ that were so pertinent to Egyptian Christianity in particular (Chapter 2). Chapter 1 is not limited to a survey of Roman Egypt, although it includes the necessary description of the unique geography of Egypt, with its annual flooding of the Nile and its extensive deserts, but includes as well an account of the development of Egyptian Christianity, from Origen to the Melitian schism, both of which had a great effect on later monasticism. Chapter 2 is nuanced in its balance of theology and politics, especially for the fifth century, but it must be noted that Harmless overstates Arius's position on Christ's divinity (which Arius did not simply deny).

The heart of the book lies in Parts II to IV, which survey the major works of monastic literature: Athanasius's Life of Antony (Chapters 3 and 4) and the Lives of Pachomius, along...