“I think her work is essential for anyone seeking an authentic Christian mysticism that refuses to be confined by its historical boundary of the cloister.” —Carl McColman, author of The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism

“This volume makes a significant contribution to the study of Evelyn Underhill’s work by gathering in one volume these selections from her early fiction and poetry, including one published here for the first time. With fresh insights into her early mystical sensibility, the short stories collected here also provide an immersive read!” —Kathleen Henderson Staudt, president, Evelyn Underhill Association

“Underhill’s fiction invites us to enter the provocative landscape of the spirit. This book juxtaposes poetry, fiction, and commentary in a way that thrills the reader, providing a new perspective on, and way to experience, Underhill’s more well-known writing on mysticism.” —Jessica L. Malay, emeritus professor of English, University of Huddersfield; author of Evelyn Underhill and the Christian Social Movement

“With this illuminating collection of Evelyn Underhill’s early short fiction and poetry, Bill Gillard and Robert Stauffer shine a light on a key period in the development of one of mysticism’s foremost advocates. Combined with Underhill’s revealing essay ‘A Defence of Magic,’ these works channel some of her first eclectic explorations along the border between mundane and spiritual experience. Gillard’s and Stauffer’s perceptive and accessible commentaries offer readers insightful guidance while helpfully situating Underhill in the esoteric milieu of her time.” —James H. Thrall, Knight Distinguished Chair Emeritus for the Study of Religion and Culture at Knox College; author of Mystic Moderns: Agency and Enchantment in Evelyn Underhill, May Sinclair, and Mary Webb

“Evelyn Underhill was a captivating storyteller. Her short stories are thought-provoking and filled with mystery. It is wonderful to have them all in one place and interspersed with some of her poetry plus short reflections.” —Robyn Wrigley-Carr, author of The Spiritual Formation of Evelyn Underhill

“Through her short stories and poems, Underhill reminds us that sometimes art is the best philosophy.” —Diego Pérez Lasserre, PhD, author of “Mysticism and Practical Rationality: Exploring Evelyn Underhill through the Lens of Phronesis”