2nd Hand - The Book Of Margery Kempe Translated By John Skinner

2nd hand . No spine crease. There is a slight fold on front cover, a small tear , a mark on the edge and a corner removed front title page. Otherwise in good condition

Until this century, little was known about the English mystic Margery Kempe (ca. 1373-ca. 1440) except that she had an association with the great Julian of Norwich. This all changed in 1934 with the discovery of The Book Of Margery Kempe in a library where it had lain hidden for 400 years. Finding her own story was important not just because it shed light on her life, but also it turned out to be the first known autobiography in the English language.

Even more surprising to the experts of the day, this unique document was written by a woman.

If anyone had expected to find Margery Kempe to be anything like her cloistered counterpart, Julian of Norwich, they were in for something of a surprise. Far from being a typical Holy woman, she was married and the mother of 14 children. Moreover, she had been a woman of substance, even running a large brewery for a time. After turning to God, she travelled thousands of miles on a pilgrimage to all parts of the known world.

Beyond the circumstances of her life, the text offers surprising revelations of the inner woman. Her account of spiritual awakening, far from being a blissful episode, is full of conflict and recrimination. What good was this new way of life if it caused her such trouble? Was this really the only way to lead a holy life? Margery Kempe remained unsure of the answers . But her patience in her struggle is a wonder to behold and an example to us today. #

paperback 14x20.5x2.5cm333 pages