From their misty beginnings in the Dark Ages of Europe, the Trappists have had a fascinating but little-known history. Now a member of the Order reveals the intriguing details of what it took for one community to find a home in North America.

The story begins in France, where monastic communities of every stripe were struggling to survive in the wake of the French Revolution. Led by the strong-willed Dom Augustin de Lestrange, a small band of Trappists set out on a years-long quest for a new home. That quest took them to Switzerland, Belgium, and England, to the New World and the windswept wilds of Nova Scotia, and ultimately to the more hospitable climes of New England. As the story unfolds, a succession of courageous and devoted monks face travails ranging from poor harvests and withering diseases to the community's perpetual nemesis-a series of devastating fires. Their ability to go on against all the odds testifies to the power of their faith and the rewards of a dedicated life.

The author brings this compelling history and its cast of characters to life with a voice that speaks both honestly and lovingly. Readers who enjoy discovering history's untold tales will be drawn into this book's treasure house of revelations.