Description
‘An intriguing exploration of withdrawal and solitude’ Daily Telegraph
‘In an age riddled with noise and distraction, The World Within feels timely’ Press Association
All my life I have dreamed of retreat. Of letting go each responsibility and cutting every tie. And I know I’m not the only one. But, when I learnt about the creative figures who left their lives behind, I began to ask myself: what is gained and what is lost when we withdraw from the world?
To answer this question, Guy Stagg tells the story of three of the twentieth century’s most original minds: the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, the poet and painter David Jones, and the writer Simone Weil. All three went on retreat during times of crisis, to find their work and their lives changed for ever. Seeking to understand these experiences, Stagg follows Wittgenstein to the ancient monastery outside Vienna where he recovered from depression, sails to the isolated island off the Welsh coast where Jones discovered a new way to make art, and spends Lent at the forbidding French Abbey that sparked an epiphany in Weil’s thinking.
The World Within blends a moving personal account with history, biography and travel, offering a profound exploration of the impulse to withdraw. It asks why retreat still enchants people to this day and hints at how each one of us can find a sanctuary of our own.
A luminous new book from the critically acclaimed author of The Crossway, winner of the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year, and shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize, Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize and Somerset Maugham Award 2019.
Product Details
Writer: Stagg, Guy
Release Date: 2025-09-16
FOC Date: 2025-08-12
Page Count: 320
All comics ship bagged and boarded.
SKU: 9781398533509
Barcode: 9781398533509
NZ Best Price.
We price match + give Pop Perks.
1400+ 5 Star Reviews
Our reviews are independently verified by Judge.me
90-Day Returns (*1)
Return your items hassle free for a full refund. Items must be unopened/unread.
Similar To The World Within:
Recently viewed
Shipping
No, we ship all over the great country of New Zealand. Shipping starts from $4.50 for most of Christchurch, $8.50 for NZ and $13 for Rural delivery and will be shown at checkout.
It depends on where you are. From the moment your order has been packed and processed by Pop Weasel it will take 3-4 business days to arrive.
Rural
Rural deliveries will add an extra 2-3 days.
Availability & Delivery
Please refer to the product page for specific delivery timeframes and estimates, such as Available From Supplier or a listed Release Date. These details come directly from our suppliers and can change frequently.
Once the item arrives at Pop Weasel, we’ll carefully pick, pack, and ship your order via your chosen delivery method.
All timeframes are estimates only and may vary.
Delivery details will be provided in a tracking information email.
We use NZ Post. Christchurch Deliveries maybe hand delivered.
Pop Weasel Guarantees
We always aim for make sure our customers love their orders, but if you do need to return an order, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly and we’ll take you through the process. Pop Weasel has a 90 day return guarantee for unused items. If your item has been opened get in contact and we will work with you to resolve any issues. Our terms exclude special order items which we deal with on a case by case basis.
Our Price Guarantee
* If you find a lower price on an in stock identical product, we will beat it by 5% and give you our famous Pop Perks.
Excludes special order, quotes, on account (credit and cash) purchases, stock liquidations and commercial quantities.
The same product must be available to you for delivery or collection and must be in-stock within New Zealand at the competitor. Includes GST and delivery charges. Price matches are limited to one per person per product.
About Pop Weasel
Pop Weasel has a team of 4 who all enjoy Pop Culture. We are based in Christchurch and enjoy spending time playing board games, reading and just hanging out.
We love reading and the story telling that goes into comics, graphic novels and manga inspired us to open a comic book store to help share that passion with others.
We sell online only allowing us to offer some of the best deals around. Pop Weasel is a comic bookshop based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Any other questions?
If we still haven't answered your question, you can contact us below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.