He presents a book of true counseling, more direct than is the accepted practice of today, but written with the conviction that comes from life-long practice.

The author truly believes that the contemplation he teaches is of the highest value. The Book of Privy Counseling was probably written later in the author’s life and reflects a mature awareness of human need.

The Cloud was written first and was well read in the fourteenth century, being honored since as a spiritual classic of the English language. Of his writings, The Cloud of Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counseling are the best known. While we do not know his name, he is known to be a fourteenth century mystic, theologian and spiritual friend. This is the directive, written by an anonymous author and printed immediately inside the front cover of The Cloud of Unknowing. the unknown author of The Cloud Of Unknowing” Should such folk read this book, I believe they will be greatly encouraged and reassured.' I do not say that they continually feel this stirring, as experienced contemplatives do, but now and again they taste something of contemplative love in the very core of their being. I am thinking of those who feel the mysterious action of the Spirit in their inmost being stirring them to love. 'However, there are some presently engaged in the active life who are being prepared by grace to grasp the message of this book. They may be good people by the standards of the active life, but this book is not suited to their needs. This applies, also, to the merely curious, educated or not. I had no intention of writing for them and prefer that they do not meddle with it. 'As for worldly gossips, flatterers, the scrupulous, tale-bearers, busybodies, and the hypercritical, I would just as soon they never laid their eyes on this book. To avoid a blunder like this, I beg you and anyone else reading this book, for love’s sake, to do as I ask. I fear lest a person read only some parts and quickly fall into error. For it is very possible that certain chapters do not stand by themselves but require the explanation given in other chapters to complete their meaning. “I charge you with love’s authority, if you give this book to someone else, warn them (as I warn you) to take the time to read it thoroughly.

The cloud of unknowing