About the Author

EVELYN UNDERHILL (6 December 1875 - 15 June 1941) was an English author, speaker and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice. In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the 20th century. In her earlier writings Underhill often wrote using the terms "mysticism" and "mystics" but later began to adopt the terms "spirituality" and "saints" because she felt they were less threatening. She was often criticized for believing that the mystical life should be accessible to the average person. Today, Underhill remains a respected writer on religion and spiritual practice. During World War II, she may well have played a powerful part in the survival of her country through the influence of her words and the impact of her teachings on thousands regarding the power of prayer. Surviving the London Blitz of 1940, her health disintegrated and she died in the following year.