“In this ringing and consummate work, Lee reconnects us with Christianity’s foundations as a resistance movement. In line with thinkers such as Leo Tolstoy and Martin Luther King Jr., she foregrounds its commitments to non-violent civic activism, radical inclusion, and the relentless pursuit of peace, which connect it to so many other faith systems across the globe that are similarly dedicated to enabling hope to overcome greed. She then turns this lens on today’s crucial issues, particularly climate change and its explosive effects, demonstrating that adamant hope can translate into vigorous action through language applied in the most incisive and persuasive ways.”

Cole Swensen

“I've often wondered if the enthusiasm of Blake or the humility of George Herbert could possibly have survived the coarse depredations of this 21st century. Thanks to the poems of Karen An-Hwei Lee, I wonder no more. All shall be well. In The Beautiful Immunity, ecstasy never fails to defy deprivation. Desire never yields to despondency. One blossom, one syllable or simply a taste of spice on the tongue can prompt a beautiful vastation and an honest prayer. There is every possibility of greatness in this book. There are wings on these words.”

Donald Revell