阿道斯·赫胥黎，英国文豪，著名的赫胥黎家族最杰出的成员之一，从小受到良好教育，先后毕业于伊顿公学和牛津大学。赫胥黎一生中创作了大量优秀作品，其中最著名有长篇小说《美丽新世界》（Brave New World）、社会学论著《重返美丽新世界》（Brave New World Revisited）、纪实文学《卢丹的恶魔》（The Devils of Loudun）以及本作《知觉之门》（The Doors of Perception）。他对人类面临的社会问题有着常人望尘莫及的洞察力，因此使其成为二十世纪英国最杰出的公共知识分子之一。他作品中的诸多预言在今时今日看来竟已多数成真。

译者庄蝶庵，作家、翻译，著有小说《爱因斯坦与上海神秘人》《反西游记》《濠上忆旧》《植物人》等，译有《点评本福尔摩斯探案集精选》《重返美丽新世界》《卢丹的恶魔》等，现任教于南京财经大学新闻学院。

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>