Sanctuary

by Marina Warner
Sanctuary cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Essays / Essay Collections
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Hardback • £22.00
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  • ID: 2233
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9780008347567
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2025-07-03
  • Formats: 16
  • Reviews: 3

Sanctuary is an ancient right. But what does it mean today? Drawing on a lifetime of engagement with literature, myth, history, and tradition from different cultures, Marina Warner's Sanctuary is an ambitious attempt to grapple with the sharpest questions that we are facing in today's world of global turmoil. This book delves into the concept of sanctuary, tracing its evolution across various cultures and historical periods. Warner explores how sanctuary has been understood and practiced, from ancient times to the present day, and examines its significance in addressing contemporary issues such as migration, refuge, and human rights. By weaving together insights from diverse traditions, Warner offers a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of what sanctuary means in our globalized and often fractured world.

Reviews
The TLS · Alberto Manguel · 2025-08-22
thoughtful 4.00

A thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the concept of sanctuary, blending history and contemporary issues.

Alberto Manguel's review delves into the book's examination of sanctuary, blending historical context with modern relevance. The reviewer appreciates the book's depth and its ability to connect past and present, offering a rich and insightful analysis.

Quick quotes

    Marina Warner's latest book continues her examination of two subjects that have long fascinated her.

    The book blends historical context with modern relevance.

    A rich and insightful analysis of the concept of sanctuary.

Engelsberg Ideas · 2025-07-22
mixed 3.00

A complex and thought-provoking book that explores the concept of sanctuary with both subtlety and eloquence.

This review acknowledges the book's complexity and the reviewer's mixed feelings about its execution. While appreciating the book's thoughtful and moving moments, the reviewer expresses some reservations about its overall impact.

Quick quotes

    Sanctuary is a complex book, by turns subtle and eloquent, opaque and digressive, thoughtful and moving.

    I ended it in lower spirits than I began it.

    The book explores the concept of sanctuary with both subtlety and eloquence.

The Guardian · 2025-06-17
ambitious 4.50

An ambitious and thought-provoking exploration of how stories shape our perceptions of each other and our sense of home.

This review highlights the book's ambitious nature and its exploration of storytelling's impact on our understanding of others and our concept of home. The reviewer praises the book's ability to weave together narrative and perception, offering a compelling perspective on migration and identity.

Quick quotes

    An ambitious meditation on the ability of narrative to shape our perceptions of one another and our experience of home.

    The book explores how stories shape our understanding of each other and our sense of home.

    A compelling perspective on migration and identity through the power of storytelling.

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