
A medieval mystic’s notebook unfolds in a series of intimate visions, recorded by a devout recluse living behind the walls of a Norwich shrine in the year 1373. The words, rendered in the English of the time, move from humble prayers for protection to vivid descriptions of divine presence that glow like “the splendor of the Lord” upon the soul. Each revelation is presented as a direct encounter with love that both comforts and challenges the listener, inviting a quiet, contemplative response. The language, though archaic, retains a lyrical quality that makes the ancient devotion feel surprisingly immediate.
The surviving text exists in two handwritten copies, one from a sixteenth‑century French library and another from a seventeenth‑century English collection, each preserving slightly different spellings and phrasing. Scholars have traced these manuscripts through centuries of collectors, noting how the humble scribe’s notes and marginal prayers hint at the work’s reverent use in monastic circles. Listeners will hear a piece of history that bridges personal revelation and communal faith, offering a rare glimpse into the spiritual life of a medieval woman whose words have inspired readers for over six hundred years.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (430K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clare Graham & Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (online soon in an extended version, alo linking to free sources for education worldwide ... MOOC's, educational materials,...) Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.
Release date
2016-09-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

b. 1343
An English mystic and anchoress from Norwich, she is remembered for vivid spiritual writings that grew out of a series of visions during a serious illness. Her Revelations of Divine Love is widely regarded as the earliest surviving book in English known to have been written by a woman.
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