阿道斯·赫胥黎，英國文豪，著名的赫胥黎傢族最傑齣的成員之一，從小受到良好教育，先後畢業於伊頓公學和牛津大學。赫胥黎一生中創作瞭大量優秀作品，其中最著名有長篇小說《美麗新世界》（Brave New World）、社會學論著《重返美麗新世界》（Brave New World Revisited）、紀實文學《盧丹的惡魔》（The Devils of Loudun）以及本作《知覺之門》（The Doors of Perception）。他對人類麵臨的社會問題有著常人望塵莫及的洞察力，因此使其成為二十世紀英國最傑齣的公共知識分子之一。他作品中的諸多預言在今時今日看來竟已多數成真。

譯者莊蝶庵，作傢、翻譯，著有小說《愛因斯坦與上海神秘人》《反西遊記》《濠上憶舊》《植物人》等，譯有《點評本福爾摩斯探案集精選》《重返美麗新世界》《盧丹的惡魔》等，現任教於南京財經大學新聞學院。

This perceptive introduction to icons offers Western Christians an entry - a way in - to understanding some of the significance and spirituality surrounding the great tradition of iconography of the Orthodox Church.

As Fr Baggley says in his introduction, &#34Icons form a door into the divine realm, a meeting point of divine grace and human need; moreover, they are also a way by which we enter more deeply into our interior life.&#34

The author conveys historical background, biblical language imagery and interpretation, spiritually of the icon painter, the visual language of icons and their environment.

Richard Temple of the Temple Gallery, London, provides an appendix on the paining of icons, together with many of the beautifully reproduced full color plates to accompany the author&#39s commentary in the illustrated section.

The book will be welcomed not only by art lovers but also by all who are interested in understanding more about icons, how and why hey are painted, and what message they sill can convey for us today &#34about the way, the truth, and the life&#34 (John 14:6).

John Baggley, who has traveled widely studying the art of the Orthodox Church, has been a contributor to The Times, is at present Team Rector of the Bicester Team of Parishes in Oxfordshire, and was previously vicar of St Peter&#39s, De Beauvoir Town, Hackney, London.</p>