A Pilgrimage to Eternity

From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith

By: Timothy Egan

Narrated by: Timothy Egan

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From "the world's greatest tour guide," a deeply researched, captivating journey through the rich history of Christianity and the winding paths of the French and Italian countryside that will feed mind, body, and soul (New York Times).

"What a wondrous work! This beautifully written and totally clear-eyed account of his pilgrimage will have you wondering whether we should all embark on such a journey, either of the body, the soul or, as in Egan's case, both." (Cokie Roberts)

"Egan draws us in, making us feel frozen in the snow-covered Alps, joyful in valleys of trees with low-hanging fruit, skeptical of the relics of embalmed saints and hopeful for the healing of his encrusted toes, so worn and weathered from their walk." (The Washington Post)

Moved by his mother's death and his Irish Catholic family's complicated history with the church, Timothy Egan decided to follow in the footsteps of centuries of seekers to force a reckoning with his own beliefs. He embarked on a thousand-mile pilgrimage through the theological cradle of Christianity to explore the religion in the world that it created. Egan sets out along the Via Francigena, once the major medieval trail leading the devout to Rome, and travels overland via the alpine peaks and small mountain towns of France, Switzerland, and Italy, accompanied by a quirky cast of fellow pilgrims and by some of the towering figures of the faith - Joan of Arc, Henry VIII, Martin Luther. The goal: walking to St. Peter's Square, in hopes of meeting the galvanizing pope who is struggling to hold together the church through the worst crisis in half a millennium.

A thrilling journey, a family story, and a revealing history, A Pilgrimage to Eternity looks for our future in its search for God.

©2019 Timothy Egan (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of Oprah's Must-Read Books of Fall 2019

“A glorious, laugh-out-loud, wipe-away-tears, blister-riddled, often rain-soaked, sometimes bone-chilled, desolate and desperate, quietly triumphant walk through church history - every last footfall in search of an elusive modern-day spiritual certitude.... Egan aimed high, and he reached it.” (The Chicago Tribune) 

“One of Egan’s best books, a moving combination of history and memoir, travelogue and soul-searching, buoyed by Egan’s strengths as a writer: color and humor, a sense of wonder and a gift for getting to the point." (Seattle Times) 

“If this book doesn’t quite settle the question of belief for you, it will at least fortify your faith in scrupulous reporting and captivating storytelling.... Egan is so well informed, he starts to seem like the world’s greatest tour guide.... Reading it, you feel yourself in the presence of goodness - the kind you might simply have to decide to believe in.” (The New York Times) 

Adventures while in quarantine! ❤️

So I’ve basically been on the same journey but while still working and reading books like these to help me find my way. The picture he paints around every corner made me want to jump on a plane and take the pilgrimaged myself. But like I said-I’m doing that from the USA in my headphones. Wonderful insight to the atrocities of Christianity while holding tight that those were never the reaches of Jesus. Didn’t want it to end.

A Beautiful & Refreshing Perspective on Faith

This was a truly beautiful book, both in his poetic descriptions of the lands he journeys through, and in his authentic thoughts on the Christian faith. I love people like Timothy Egan, who see the beauty and value of religion, and yet are also honest about its pitfalls and mistakes.

Some favorite quotes from this book:
"All religion is informed by myth, as are most cultural bonds, from Ulysses to Game of Thrones. 'Mythology is not a lie,' said Joseph Campbell. 'Mythology is poetry, it's metaphysical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth - penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words.'"

“Until atheism can tell a story, it will always have trouble packing a house.”

Egan fan

I’m a huge Egan fan. Read all his books. This was ok. I learned a lot about Catholicism. His journey was very personal and hard to draw me in. Good stuff but didn’t draw me in like other books by him.

Another reading treasure!

Tim Egan reading his own pilgrimage is delightful. Thank you so very much, Mr Egan.

Get a good reader!

I love to hear Egan talk... off the cuff, but you BLEW a good story trying to read it yourself! Stick to writing, that’s your skill.

An excellent book, well read, by the author

What a wonderful book, even for us agnostics. From NYTimes columnist Timothy Egan. Full of interesting history, geography, and deep spirituality.

Travelogue, Idolatry, Sensuality, but no spirituality

This is a sensual guide to sightseeing, good food, and idolatry. If readers of this travelogue want to go on this same pilgrimage, I urge them to become pilgrims first. A Christian pilgrim is a devotee to Christ, not his or her own pedagogy. The author was devoted to his own intellect and couldn't subjugate his will to the true genius of his Creator to save his life. He describes the venues, food, and Catholic idols beautifully, but for the thick wads of cotton that seemingly stifle his voice. This book was not about a journey of faith, but about a man who was deciding whether to affiliate himself with the Catholic Church despite its atrocities. His faith is dependent upon things going his way. He actually argues that if millions of people die because God fails to intervene, there may be no God. He discounts the price of agency as flippantly as discarding dross. Agency is the very most important gift given to us by the Savior. In fact, had he investigated Christian faith on even its most superficial level, he would know that a war in heaven was fought over Agency. The author sided with Satan's argument in the war. Exercising agency to choose to believe in Jesus Christ, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and faith in the Father are so important because the Father asks us to show Him our hearts. He is looking in us for subjugation of our will to His. Not because he's a hard-hearted jerk, but because he knows it is our only path to eternal joy. Joy. If one wants to return to the presence of the Father, one must put away the natural man that Paul wrote about and choose something different. If agency were such an easily disposed of principle, why was a war in heaven fought over it? A third of the angels sided with Satan because they believed his lie that all could be saved whether they surrendered to Christ or not. Now they are all Sons of Perdition. The journey of faith is about repentance-- turning around and walking towards God--not going our own way. The good news is that the author still has time. You can't obtain a personal relationship with Christ by hiking and sightseeing. Throw away your VF guide and read your Bible, pray, and serve others. Get on your knees and beg Heavenly Father to change you as deeply as change comes. That is a spiritual journey--a journey to faith. Wine, oil, and fungi will not help you draw closer to Christ, no matter how delicious and sensual.

A Pilgrimage to Eternity

What an excellent book! I am so glad that I listened to this on audible, I felt I was able to feel like I was walking along with the author. I too , like the author, have a questioned my Catholic beginnings. What an amazing pilgrimage to experience. Unfortunately, I do not believe that I will ever be able to do the pilgrimage the way Mr. Egan did, but I truly felt I was going along with him. I have been to Rome and have seen many of the sites that the author talked about. Thank you for such an enlightening and historic experience!

Good but not my favorite Egan

I’m a big Tim Egan fan, so I grabbed A Pilgrimage to Eternity shortly after it was released. It was good. It displayed again how great a writer he is. But I found I had a hard time connecting with it. It needed more candor or revelation about his spiritual journey. It just wasn’t inward enough. Probably hard for someone whose life has been chronicling the lives of others. I’m looking forward still to his next book.

Excellent story of a pilgrimage

As a many times pilgrim myself I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mixture of history and personal experience is ideal.

Informative, thoughtful and beautifully read

Egan's writing about the pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome is a delight to listen to. This book is not a travel guide, he doesn't walk every step of the way, but states clearly at the outset that this is not what he intends to do. He does not describe all of the terrain, places and encounters, nor does he complain of various aches and pains, nor discuss clothing and equipment. Instead he interweaves his own beliefs, experiences and hopes with the history of each place he passes through. He is reflective, but avoids the gushing emotional incontinence of so many American writers, his narration is gentle, comforting and, ultimately, hopeful. Throughout his journey he considers his creaking faith, life's purpose, suffering, forgiveness, and mortality. There are no moments of enlightenment, revelations or strikingly clear answers, he does not find answers to all of his questions, but does find acceptance, which is perhaps as much as any of us can hope for. I have not yet walked the Via Francigena, I hope and plan to. As I do, I will be listening to this book, undoubtedly the best piece of writing about the VF, and about pilgrimage in general, that I have read.

Not what I expected.

it unfortunately not a documented journey of the long hike, but instead almost purely small historical and religious stories. It does get somewhat better nearer the end. Not recommended if expecting og story on the Journey of the Via Francigena.