Margery Kempe: A Mixed Life

Margery Kempe, a mystic and pilgrim from the late-fourteenth century, recorded her extraordinary experiences and religious visions in her work, The Book of Margery Kempe. This account by Anthony Bale provides insight into her life, relationships, and the influences that shaped her, with extensive quotations and illustrations from her manuscript.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2021
Publisher: Reaktion Books

Here is the rewritten text:
Margery Kempe, a mystic and pilgrim from the late 14th century, embarked on a remarkable journey that spanned across Europe. With a remarkable 14 children, Kempe's life was filled with experiences that would shape her remarkable work, The Book of Margery Kempe. Often hailed as the first autobiography in the English language, Kempe's book chronicles her life, offering a captivating account of her experiences, relationships, and the objects and experiences that influenced her.

In his book, Anthony Bale delves into the life of Kempe, painting a vivid picture of her journey through the places, relationships, and objects that shaped her. Extensive quotations from Kempe's book provide a deep insight into the life of a medieval woman, offering a rare glimpse into her thoughts, emotions, and experiences. The book is accompanied by generous illustrations that further enhance the reader's understanding of Kempe's world.

Margery Kempe's life was intricately intertwined with the religious controversies of her time. Her religious visions and later years are placed in context, providing a broader understanding of her experiences and the societal norms of the period. Additionally, the story of the rediscovery of the unique manuscript of Kempe's autobiography in the 1930s adds an intriguing layer to her legacy, highlighting the enduring power of her words and the enduring interest in her life.

Through her work, Margery Kempe emerges as a captivating figure, a woman who defied societal expectations and pursued her spiritual journey with unwavering determination. Her autobiography offers a unique perspective on the medieval world, shedding light on the lives of women, religion, and the complexities of the human experience.

Weight: 584g
Dimension: 147 x 225 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789144703