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Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art Paperback – October 11, 2016

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 594 ratings

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In this classic book,Madeleine L'Engle addresses the questions, What does it mean to be a Christian artist? and What is the relationship between faith and art? Through L'Engle's beautiful and insightful essay, readers will find themselves called to what the author views as the prime tasks of an artist: to listen, to remain aware, and to respond to creation through one's own art.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“When I discovered Walking on Water years ago, my creative self underwent a sort of liberation. I had always sensed that there was a wonderful connection between spirituality and creativity, but Madeleine’s insights about both of those worlds helped me claim with more confidence my own creative gifts. This is a wise and inspiring book that should be in every artist’s library.”
–Vinita Hampton Wright, author of
Grace at Bender Springs and Velma Still Cooks in Leeway

“Once again, L’Engle touches the deepest parts of our psyche and heart with her artist’s wand. She writes with an earthy rhythm that not only reveals the mysteries of our artistic natures, but also qualifies all along the way her inimitable wise-woman philosophies. L’Engle’ s writing is God’s gift to a generation who needs to sit on a stump and lend an ear to what the right brain is saying to the left and to what the soul is saying to the heart. Walking on Water guides the wandering artist back to the Savior and says ‘There, you’ve come home again where you belong!’”
–Patricia Hickman, award-winning author of
Katrina’s Wings

“There are those who write about art-making as if they’ re detailing the techniques of a heart surgeon. Then there are those, like Madeleine L’Engle, who simply show you their heart. Like the words of Jesus to the fisherman brothers, the words of Madeleine are ‘follow me’ words. Through the pages of Walking on Water hungry, thirsty folks have been following for two decades–quickly recognizing that the reason Madeleine is worth following is that she follows Jesus.”
–Charlie Peacock-Ashworth, record producer and author of
At the Crossroads: An Insider's Look at Contemporary Christian Music

About the Author

Madeleine L'Engle was the author of more than forty-five books for all ages, among them the beloved A Wrinkle in Time, awarded the Newbery Medal; A Ring of Endless Light, a Newbery Honor Book; A Swiftly Tilting Planet, winner of the American Book Award; and the Austin family series of which Troubling a Star is the fifth book. L'Engle was named the 1998 recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards award, honoring her lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Ms. L'Engle was born in 1918 in New York City. She wrote her first book,
The Small Rain, while touring with Eva Le Gallienne in Uncle Harry. She met Hugh Franklin, to whom she was married until his death in 1986, while they were rehearsing The Cherry Orchard, and they were married on tour during a run of The Joyous Season, starring Ethel Barrymore.

Ms. L'Engle retired from the stage after her marriage, and the Franklins moved to northwest Connecticut and opened a general store. After a decade in Connecticut, the family returned to New York.

After splitting her time between New York City and Connecticut and acting as the librarian and writer-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Madeleine L’Engle died on September 7, 2007 at the age of 88.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Convergent Books (October 11, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804189277
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804189279
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.16 x 0.59 x 7.96 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 594 ratings

About the author

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Madeleine L'Engle
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Madeleine was born on November 29th, 1918, and spent her formative years in New York City. Instead of her school work, she found that she would much rather be writing stories, poems and journals for herself, which was reflected in her grades (not the best). However, she was not discouraged.

At age 12, she moved to the French Alps with her parents and went to an English boarding school where, thankfully, her passion for writing continued to grow. She flourished during her high school years back in the United States at Ashley Hall in Charleston, South Carolina, vacationing with her mother in a rambling old beach cottage on a beautiful stretch of Florida Beach.

She went to Smith College and studied English with some wonderful teachers as she read the classics and continued her own creative writing. She graduated with honors and moved into a Greenwich Village apartment in New York. She worked in the theater, where Equity union pay and a flexible schedule afforded her the time to write! She published her first two novels during these years—A Small Rain and Ilsa—before meeting Hugh Franklin, her future husband, when she was an understudy in Anton Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard. They married during The Joyous Season.

She had a baby girl and kept on writing, eventually moving to Connecticut to raise the family away from the city in a small dairy farm village with more cows than people. They bought a dead general store, and brought it to life for 9 years. They moved back to the city with three children, and Hugh revitalized his professional acting career.

As the years passed and the children grew, Madeleine continued to write and Hugh to act, and they to enjoy each other and life. Madeleine began her association with the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, where she was the librarian and maintained an office for more than thirty years. After Hugh’s death in 1986, it was her writing and lecturing that kept her going. She lived through the 20th century and into the 21st and wrote over 60 books. She enjoyed being with her friends, her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
594 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspiring. They describe it as a wonderful, memorable read with memorable quotes. The author connects creativity and faith in a refreshing way for artists. Readers praise the writing style as interesting and true. They appreciate the author's reflections on faith and art, particularly for readers with a Christian worldview. They find the imagery beautiful and the perspectives profound. Overall, customers consider the book a treasure and a classic.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

55 customers mention "Insight"55 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and thought-provoking. They say it helps them rethink creation, their response through art, and the meaning of life in the everyday world. The book provides great points and helpful statements like "Maybe art is seeing."

"...Her perspectives are profound, well presented, and I found them to be alarmingly timely in our current time despite having been written some time ago..." Read more

"This book is spectacular. It’s a well of wisdom and faith. The author is humble, well spoken and knowledgeable...." Read more

"...her beautiful words of God, art, writing, and the meaning of life in the everyday world, as well as the world on the other side..." Read more

"...Short interesting book with some great points. Well narrated, too." Read more

38 customers mention "Readability"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and full of memorable quotes. They say it's an intellectual read that will get their juices flowing. Many consider it a classic, one of their favorite writing books, and a rich source of Christian art inspiration. Readers describe it as entertaining and inspirational.

"This book is spectacular. It’s a well of wisdom and faith. The author is humble, well spoken and knowledgeable...." Read more

"This book sits at the top of my list of all time favorite writing books...." Read more

"...Short interesting book with some great points. Well narrated, too." Read more

"Worth the read because Madeline L'Engle will teach you somethings you never thought of and help you to see life from a creative unique angle." Read more

29 customers mention "Inspiration"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and refreshing for artists. They say it connects creativity and faith in a refreshing way. The book helps them learn about themselves and their art, and how faith is part of it all. Readers mention it's relevant to all types of artists and flows around the central themes relating to faith and art.

"...This is a sweet, sometimes rambling journey through her views on art, writing, and faith, and how the three can often be very intertwined...." Read more

"...She comments on the role of art in prayer and how the true task of the artist is to be a servant, one who creates cosmos in the chaos...." Read more

"...is treated to a deeply personal narrative that both encourages him to interact with art and inspires him to create art--to see through the chaos and..." Read more

"...but it is insightful as to her heart and philosophy of art...." Read more

26 customers mention "Writing style"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and insightful. They describe the author as intelligent, well-spoken, and knowledgeable. The book is narrated well and has influenced their own writing. Readers recommend it to both established and aspiring writers.

"...It’s a well of wisdom and faith. The author is humble, well spoken and knowledgeable. Her faith in angels and the Bible inspire me to be more...." Read more

"...After a spell of depression, her beautiful words of God, art, writing, and the meaning of life in the everyday world, as well as the world on the..." Read more

"...Short interesting book with some great points. Well narrated, too." Read more

"...In "Walking on Water," the reader is treated to a deeply personal narrative that both encourages him to interact with art and inspires him to..." Read more

20 customers mention "Faith"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's faith and creativity. They find it interesting and true, especially for readers with a Christian worldview. The book is a standard in the spiritual community and a favorite devotional. Readers feel encouraged to be faithful and relinquish control through admitting that they are.

"This book is spectacular. It’s a well of wisdom and faith. The author is humble, well spoken and knowledgeable...." Read more

"...sometimes rambling journey through her views on art, writing, and faith, and how the three can often be very intertwined...." Read more

"...This book is a thoughtful explanation. of the inseparability of art and religion for a Christian...." Read more

"...on the philosophy of aesthetics, particularly for readers with a Christian worldview...." Read more

15 customers mention "Beauty"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's beautiful imagery and profound insights. They find it a fine treatise on the philosophy of aesthetics, particularly for Christian readers. Readers appreciate the well-presented perspectives and consider the book the best on Christian art they have read.

"...Her perspectives are profound, well presented, and I found them to be alarmingly timely in our current time despite having been written some time ago..." Read more

"...This book is beautiful for the artist, in all mediums, and for people who want to feed their souls." Read more

"...It is a fine treatise on the philosophy of aesthetics, particularly for readers with a Christian worldview...." Read more

"...This is a book where art, the Christian faith and philosophy merge...." Read more

4 customers mention "Book value"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value. They find it a valuable resource and consider it a great addition to their collection.

"...This little book is a treasure, and it would make a wonderful gift for any artist who is serious about their work." Read more

"Loved what was included in the book. Very sad that the book was not complete!!!" Read more

"...This was a great addition to her collection." Read more

"excellent resource..." Read more

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Worth the read because Madeline L'Engle will teach you somethings you never thought of and help you to see life from a creative unique angle.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022
    As a creative writer, I loved so much about this book, even when it made me cringy or challenged some of my intellectual superiority that needs some adjusting. I had at least two things to highlight, flag, star or reread in every single chapter, and this will stay on my keeper shelf right beside Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Her perspectives are profound, well presented, and I found them to be alarmingly timely in our current time despite having been written some time ago. I needed to read slowly, and appreciate that this book, while only in part, rips straight into the heart of the question is there a difference between Christian art and art. Is the distinction necessary, needed, and sometimes even possible? Quotes that have stuck in my brain from this book are:
    "If I leave the story for a day, it leaves me for 3."
    "Keep the clock wound." - On the important of writing every day or even in seasons of non-inspiration.
    "Would I want the children to see?"
    And just everything about "serving the work" and "Feeding the Lake."
    HIGHLY recommend, primarily for those who share the Christian faith in any denomination, but lots of deep thought and perspective to be had outside of that as well.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023
    This book is spectacular. It’s a well of wisdom and faith. The author is humble, well spoken and knowledgeable. Her faith in angels and the Bible inspire me to be more. This book is beautiful for the artist, in all mediums, and for people who want to feed their souls.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2012
    This book sits at the top of my list of all time favorite writing books. Even though I owe Stephen King's On Writing a re-read, he is now firmly on line two. I connect with her writing in ways that influence my life. It was true when I was a child, it is still true today. In three areas I found new inspiration from these pages.

    She was asked to write a book on writing as a Christian. This is a powerful examination of what being a Christian artist and producing Christian art means. We like to think theses questions belong to our generation. Madeleine states strongly - all art is inspired by God and your Christian beliefs will show through your work.

    She answers the question of why one writes. You write because you must. You become better at writing when you let go of yourself and listen and obey the work.

    One of her thesis is Christian art should be life affirming. For me, the life affirmation I found in these pages was powerful. After a spell of depression, her beautiful words of God, art, writing, and the meaning of life in the everyday world, as well as the world on the other side (of reason, silence, time and space) lifted me to an engaging level.

    Her advice is 1) be obedient to God's call and to the work you hear, 2) listen and learn from the work and 3) to write every day.

    As a writer you are a co-creator with God and your reader, such an empowering thought.

    This book is for you if you are looking for answers to what is Christian fiction, am I a Christian writer, should I be a writer, or what is my calling. Or maybe you just want to be reminded to embrace life with child like faith so you too, can walk on water.
    29 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023
    My first nonfiction from L'engle after ready a biography of her. This is a sweet, sometimes rambling journey through her views on art, writing, and faith, and how the three can often be very intertwined. Short interesting book with some great points. Well narrated, too.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023
    I love basically everything Madeline L'Engle has written. This book is a thoughtful explanation. of the inseparability of art and religion for a Christian. It examines how the recent loss of humanity's collective imagination deprives us of the wonder of creation and the active suspense of disbelief that faith requires. She comments on the role of art in prayer and how the true task of the artist is to be a servant, one who creates cosmos in the chaos. This clearsighted reflective book is incredible!!! Also go read Ring of Endless Light by her because it's life-changing!
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
    Worth the read because Madeline L'Engle will teach you somethings you never thought of and help you to see life from a creative unique angle.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well done
    Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
    Worth the read because Madeline L'Engle will teach you somethings you never thought of and help you to see life from a creative unique angle.
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    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2009
    When I was a child, I was utterly mystified and captivated by the revelation that, "there IS such a thing as a tesseract." I didn't know what one was, exactly, but I knew what it meant: it meant that there was something beyond the chaos, a mysterious otherness that exists outside the realm of the visible world. Ms. L'Engle's most famous book, "A Wrinkle in Time," is about that marvelous discovery that the universe contains much more than meets the eye. Even as a child, I was able to comprehend the spiritual and metaphysical allusions--though I did not recognize them as such. This book, "Walking on Water," is kind of like the adult version of "Wrinkle in Time," except that it is not fiction. All of that stuff about angels and tesseracts turns out to be very real and true and necessary. In "Walking on Water," the reader is treated to a deeply personal narrative that both encourages him to interact with art and inspires him to create art--to see through the chaos and into the cosmos. It is a fine treatise on the philosophy of aesthetics, particularly for readers with a Christian worldview. This little book is a treasure, and it would make a wonderful gift for any artist who is serious about their work.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
    I'm working on a study on creative ministry and so seeing one of the great artists and authors of the last century having written a book on faith and art, I became most intrigued. It wasn't quite what I expected and in many ways it was more. This is a book where art, the Christian faith and philosophy merge. Her thoughts are challenging and intriguing and I came away realizing that I need to go even deeper in my thinking on this topic. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who are interested in the arts and the Christian faith.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cindy B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book
    Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2020
    I had not realized that L’Engle was a Christian. I’d read A Wrinkle in time as a young child, almost 18 years before I came to faith. When I saw this book in a search for “Christian creativity” I was intrigued. It is a wonderfully deep book, but pleasant and easy to read. L’Engle’s faith is built on sound doctrine, and I found great insight into what being a Christian artist or writer is all about.
  • Cliente BB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Arte nella cristianità quotidiana
    Reviewed in Italy on October 22, 2017
    Bel libro spirituale , lei una scrittrice ma l approccio all' arte attraverso la preghiera, rappresenta quello che faccio prima di dipingere..un Po troppo descrittiva del suo essere scrittrice....mi ha ispirato
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful exploration of faith and creativity
    Reviewed in Australia on August 9, 2017
    This is a beautifully written, fascinating exploration of what it means to be a Christian, and to create art. L'Engle focuses on writing, as that's her medium, but many of the underlying principles hold true for the other expressive arts as well - visual arts, acting, and so forth. L'Engle also weaves in a discussion of faith itself, of what it means to be human, as co-creators of the world with God. I have never highlighted a book as much as I did this one, so many amazing passages, resonating with deep truth.
    Highly, highly recommend, and especially recommend for anyone with an interest in living in this world as a Christian artist.
  • TLC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Walking On Water--A Beautiful Spiritual Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2014
    Madeleine L’Engle is best known for her children’s fantasy series, A Wrinkle In Time and other works of fiction. However, in this truly inspiring book, she writes her own reflections on her Christian faith and shares some of the background to her writing process of some of her novels. Whether you are a writer or an actor or an illustrator or creative on another level, this book will speak to you. On the other hand, if you are spiritually minded of any faith, this will enliven your faith and perhaps even inspire you to test your creative juices once more. The author explains how we lose our child-like creativity, forgetting how to ‘walk on water.’ Madeleine shows us how faith and art intermingles when she writes, ‘I have often been asked if my Christianity affects my stories, and surely it is the other way around; my stories affect my Christianity….’ She also writes, ’I learn that my feelings about art and my feelings about the creator of the universe are inseparable. To try to talk about art and about Christianity is for me one and the same thing, and it means attempting to share the meaning of life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory. It is what makes me respond to the death of an apple tree, the birth of a puppy, northern lights shaking the sky, by writing stories.’

    Her reflections are beautifully and intellectually written yet not overly scholarly. In it, she quotes other famous (and not-so-famous) authors and thinkers. Though less than 200 pages, I found myself wanting to read this slowly, taking my time to savour all the ways it spoke to me. I read and re-read passages and wrote them down in my journal to save for later. It resonated on a deep level so that my spirit could only respond with a joyful, ‘YES!’ She is now top of my list in answer to the question, “If you could have anyone over for an evening of dinner and conversation whether dead or alive, who would you invite?” I only wish I had attended one of her workshops or lectures when she was alive. Her beauty shines through her words.
  • Sally
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2019
    Lovely book that connects the beautiful things in life - art and faith.