Research Catalog

Title

The book of Margery Kempe / Margery Kempe ; translated with an introduction and notes by Anthony Bale.

Author

Kempe, Margery, approximately 1373-

Publication

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2015.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Bale, Anthony, 1975-

Description

xliii, 275 pages : map; 20 cm.

Summary

The Book of Margery Kempe (c. 1436-8) is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother, and mystic. Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, Kempe's Book describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed businesswoman and lustful young wife, to devout and chaste pilgrim. She vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome and Jerusalem. In her life and her boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she also garnered friends and supporters who helped to record her experiences. Her Book opens a window to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman's life, aspirations, and prayers. This new translation preserves the forceful narrative voice of Kempe's Book and includes a wide-ranging introduction and useful notes. - Amazon.

Series Statement

Oxford world's classics

Uniform Title

Oxford world's classics (Oxford University Press)

Subject

• Kempe, Margery, approximately 1373-
• Mysticism > Early works to 1800
• Women > Religious life > England > Early works to 1800
• Women mystics > England > Biography
• Women authors, English > Biography
• Christian women > England > Biography
• Mysticisme > Ouvrages avant 1800
• Femmes > Vie religieuse > Angleterre > Ouvrages avant 1800
• Femmes mystiques > Angleterre > Biographies
• Écrivaines anglaises > Biographies
• Chrétiennes > Angleterre > Biographies
• Biography
• Women mystics
• Women authors, English
• Women > Religious life
• Christian women
• Mysticism
• England

Genre/Form

• autobiographies (literary works)
• Autobiographies
• Biographies
• Early works
• Autobiographies.

Note

• Translated from the Middle English.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages xxxvii-xl) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Introduction -- Note on Text and Translation -- Select Bibliography -- A Note on Money -- A Chronology of Margery Kempe -- Map: Major Places Visited by Margery Kempe. The Book of Margery Kempe. Explanatory Notes -- Glossary of Offices and Institutions.

ISBN

• 9780199686643
• 0199686645

OCLC

• 898153051
• SCSB-11280423

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library