Life and Work of Ernesto de Martino

By Flavio A. Geisshuesler

Book Description

This illuminating biography explores the fascinating intellectual journey of Ernesto de Martino, a pioneering Italian scholar whose groundbreaking work shaped our understanding of religion and spirituality in the modern world. Through careful examination of de Martino's personal story and scholarly contributions, author Flavio A. Geisshuesler reveals how one man's quest to understand the sacred transformed the field of religious studies.

Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century intellectual and social upheaval, this study demonstrates how de Martino's research emerged from profound concerns about humanity's spiritual crisis. The book traces his evolution as a thinker who grappled with apocalyptic fears while seeking to revitalize religious scholarship for contemporary seekers.

Geisshuesler places de Martino's insights alongside those of renowned scholars like Mircea Eliade, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and Clifford Geertz, highlighting a distinctly Italian perspective on the study of religion. This comparative approach illuminates how different cultural contexts shape our understanding of spiritual phenomena.

For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality, culture, and academic inquiry, this work offers valuable insights into how religious studies can remain relevant in times of crisis. The book suggests that de Martino's approach provides a pathway for rediscovering the transformative power of religious scholarship, making it particularly meaningful for those seeking to understand how spiritual wisdom can address contemporary challenges.