The Early Modern Englishwoman: A Facsimile Library of Essential Works & Printed Writings, 1500-1640: Series I

1 primary work

Late Medieval Englishwomen: Julian of Norwich; Marjorie Kempe and Juliana Berners

by Barry Collett

Published 2 March 2017

This volume includes the works of three Englishwomen: Julian of Norwich (1342-c.1416) whose Revelations were first printed in 1670; Margery Kempe (c.1373-c.1438) from whose Boke of Marjorie Kempe a few extracts were printed in 1501 and again in 1512; Juliana Berners (possibly c.1388) whose treatise on hawkyng and huntyng was first printed in 1486, with a second edition containing an additional treatise on fishing. The writings of these three women are brought together in this book because they are amongst the earliest female writers in the English language, they each reflected everyday lives, and reveal with passion, insight and compassion spiritualities not separate from the physical world but entwined with it. Julian of Norwich brings contemplative insights of God's love to a sinful and suffering humanity; Margery Kempe actively weeps for her own sin and the sins and suffering of the world and Juliana Berners lives actively with expertise and serenity in the world of nature.