The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis: Illustrated The Timeless Classic, the most read book after the Bible! Four Books in One Includes a Foreword and a Biography of Thomas Kempis Includes a Table of Contents to all 118 Chapters Includes Footnotes, an Index of Scripture References and Subjects Over 60,000 words including Paintings by 17th Century Artist, Guido Reni Publisher: This Paperback Edition is 5" x 8". Also available: 6" x 9" Paperback Edition and Kindle Edition Summary The Imitation of Christ is a cherished treasure of the Christian world and is the most widely read devotional work next to the Bible. Apart from the Bible no book has been translated into more languages than the Imitation of Christ. It was first composed in Latin ca.1418-1427. It is a handbook for spiritual life. The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions: "Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life", "Directives for the Interior Life", "On Interior Consolation" and "On the Blessed Sacrament". The approach taken in the Imitation is characterized by its emphasis on the interior life and withdrawal from the world. The book places a high level of emphasis on the devotion to the Eucharist as key element of spiritual life. This great book was written by a Roman Catholic monk. "Written", perhaps, is not the proper word. It would be more appropriate to say that each letter of the book is marked deep with the heart's blood of the great soul who had renounced all for his l