`An intriguing exploration of withdrawal and solitude'�Daily Telegraph�`Stagg writes masterfully' The TimesWhat do we gain and what do we lose when we step back from the world?�Guy Stagg follows in the footsteps of three extraordinary twentieth-century figures who withdrew during moments of crisis: Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Jones and Simone Weil.�Blending history, travel, biography and a moving personal story, The World Within examines how retreat can save a life or transform a creative practice. It asks why the idea of retreat still enchants people to this day and hints at how each one of us can find a sanctuary of our own. `Stagg writes well and brightly about all he encounters'�Observer`A readable book that looks at how three people tried to live at the extreme edge of the human spirit'�Literary Review`Remarkable . . . Stagg, too, is on a journey, which is what makes his books so attractive and accessible'�The Tablet`In an age riddled with noise and distraction,�The World Within�feels timely. It reminds us that silence and solitude are vital for self-discovery' Press Association
