Christina the Astonishing

Saint Christina the Astonishing was born into a poor Belgian family in 1150. She died at 22 but at her requiem, she rose from her coffin and flew away like a bird, wanting to escape the smell of sinful humanity. This new edition of the book makes Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders' sensual and exhilarating poetic collaboration available once more. The life of the little-known St Christina provokes fantasies and questions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 92 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: Two Rivers Press

Saint Christina the Astonishing, born in 1150 into a humble Belgian family, lived a remarkable life marked by extraordinary exploits. Despite her young age of 22, when she passed away, she defied the natural order and emerged from her coffin, soaring away like a bird, seeking to escape the pungent scent of sinful humanity. This extraordinary event marked the beginning of a series of mad and disobedient actions that defined her long and remarkable journey.

In their poetic collaboration, Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders retell the story of Christina, exploring her quest for selfhood through a woman's lens. The book incorporates artwork from Peter Hay, specifically created for the original edition in response to the poetry. Originally published in 1998 and long out of print, this new edition reintroduces the sensual and exhilarating poetic collaboration of Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders to a wider audience.

St Christina's life, characterized by asceticism and excess, exasperation, and occasional absurdity, ignites a range of fantasies and prompts deep questions. Was she a wonder worker, driven by a hatred of the flesh? Or a powerful woman who defied societal norms and liberated herself through legendary flights? Rather than providing pieties or diagnoses, Lesley Saunders and Jane Draycott invite readers on a soul-nourishing journey. Their distinct voices intertwine with the voices of the Middle Ages, creating an extraordinary blend of the sacred and the profane, the rapt and the irreverent, playful, sensual, and profoundly felt.

Philip Gross praises the poetry for its ability to fuse earthly sensuality with spiritual depth, allowing us to hear Christina's voice resonating clearly from the rafters. Robyn Bolam also commends the book, highlighting its exceptional quality and the way it captures the essence of Christina's remarkable life.

In conclusion, Saint Christina the Astonishing's life, as retold by Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders in their poetic collaboration, offers a captivating exploration of selfhood, spirituality, and the boundaries between the sacred and the profane. Through their distinctive voices and the incorporation of artwork, the book invites readers on a sensory and emotional journey, offering a feast of soul food that sparks curiosity, provokes thought, and leaves a lasting impression.

Weight: 212g
Dimension: 136 x 209 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915048004
Edition number: 2 New edition