Marian Maternity in Late-Medieval England

The study of Marian maternity in late-medieval England explores how vernacular religious texts construct and perform maternity, drawing on Chaucer's poetry, Margery Kempe's Boke, and legends of female saints. It employs a matricentric feminist approach to discern how readers' devotional literacies inform their understanding and imitation of the Virgin's maternal practice, revealing late-medieval perceptions of Mary's maternity and setting them against readers' devotional, emotional, and relational circumstances.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Marian maternity in late-medieval England delves into the fifteenth century's profound fascination with the Virgin Mary, widely recognized as the most documented mother of the medieval era. By juxtaposing texts and authors that are typically not discussed in conjunction, this study provides a comprehensive exploration of the intricate factors that shaped the circulation of Marian material among experienced devotional readers.

Through a meticulous examination of the private devotional reading practices of late-medieval patrons, the book reveals how texts such as Chaucer's poetry, Margery Kempe's Boke, and legends of female saints are permeated with subtle references to and imitations of the Virgin. By adopting a matricentric feminist approach, the author aims to discern how readers' devotional literacies shape their interpretation and imitation of the Virgin's maternal practices. Close attention is paid to internal cues within the texts, manuscript contexts, and the diverse literacies of readers, allowing the author to examine Marian maternity as both a theological concept and an eminently imitable practice.

The outcome of this study is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound understanding of late-medieval perceptions of Mary's maternity and contextualizes them within the broader framework of readers' devotional, emotional, and relational experiences. It sheds light on the complex interplay between religious beliefs, cultural norms, and individual experiences, providing a rich tapestry of insights into the multifaceted nature of Marian devotion in late-medieval England.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 144 x 224 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526155306