The Book of Margery Kempe
By admin on Feb 09, 2010 with Comments 5
Product Description
The text presented here remains as faithful to the original Middle English as possible, without sounding archaic. Kempe’s work is accompanied by an introduction, a map of medieval England, a Kempe lexicon, and explanatory annotations.
“Contexts” collects primary readings that illuminate The Book of Margery Kempe. Included are excerpts from The Constitutions of Thomas Arundel, Meditations on the Life of Christ, The Shewings of Julian of Norwich, The Book of Saint Bride, and The Life of Marie d’Oignies by Jacques de Vitry.
“Criticism” includes nine varied interpretations of the autobiography, written by Clarissa W. Atkinson, Lynn Staley, Karma Lochrie, David Aers, Kathleen Ashley, Gail McMurray Gibson, Sarah Beckwith, Caroline Walker Bynum, and Nicholas Watson.
A Selected Bibliography is also included. .Amazon.com Review
The first autobiography written in English–by a brewery owner, Christian mystic, and mother of 14 named Margery Kempe, who died in the 15th century–is now available in a lively, modern translation by John Skinner. It begins with her stark conversion experience, heralded by a vision of Christ in her bedroom one night. The story follows Margery through pilgrimages across Europe and to the Holy Land, through a heresy trial in England, and her burgeoning mystical life. Similar in many ways to Showings by Julian of Norwich and the Confessions of Augustine, The Book of Margery Kempe is a beautiful description of medieval daily life and religious experience. –Michael Joseph Gross
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The novel never came and I needed it for college. They had the wrong address, however, on the order form, the the had the address listed correclty from previous orders. Very, very poor service.
Rating: 1 / 5
Another book I read for class. I knew a little about Margery Kempe beforehand, like she had 14 children. I didn’t know that the first autobiography ever written in English was so boring. I felt like Margery repeated herself, over and over. I wanted more details about her life- about her husband, her children, and her pilgrimages. I don’t think I would pick this up unless you are specifically interested in early Christianity writings.
Rating: 1 / 5
At first, I rather enjoyed this book – Margery Kempe is quite kooky. But reading more and more, Margery just became annoying, especially with all her weeping. Is it any wonder that no one wanted to travel with her? Or that she was arrested so often? Did she really think her activities would win people to God? Or am I just guilty of being another one of her persecutors?
Rating: 4 / 5
Margery Kempe, along with Richard Rolle, were somewhat heretical, and this is helpful to point out what mistakes they made that we Christians (and non-Christians) continue to make. Richard Rolle is also interesting because he, not Chaucer, was the first great writer in English (rather than Latin). I would recommend his Fire of Love as helpful for the things not to do. Dr. Henry P. Roberson, Enid, Oklahoma
Rating: 5 / 5
Just wanted to point out: Margery Kempe was actually extremely wealthy, not “lower class.” There is evidence that John Kempe married her for her money. She was the operator of a brewery, which also provided a great deal of income. Lower class medieval women usually didn’t have the means to travel around evangelizing.
Rating: 5 / 5