Prophets Abroad: The Reception of Continental Holy Women in Late-medieval EnglandRosalynn Voaden Scholars have long been aware of the impact of the lives and works of Continental holy women on English spirituality; female mystics such as Margery Kempe were inspired by their predecessors abroad, whose visionary experiences and spiritual reflections were recorded and widely read. However, very little scholarly work has been done on the effect of Continental holy women on the spiritual and devotional practices of late-medieval England. The essays in this volume investigate the influence of Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite Porete, Mechtild of Hackeborn, Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Siena by focusing on topics including manuscript dissemination, incorporation in spiritual guides, and the translation, illumination, adaptation and alteration of their works for an English audience. Overall, they offer new evidence of the way in which Continental sensibility and spiritual reflection were altered and adapted for an identifiably English devotional practice and spirituality. Dr ROSALYNN VOADEN teaches in the Department of English at Arizona State University. The contributors are: DENISE DESPRES, JANETTE DILLON, ROGER ELLIS, JOAN FRIEDMAN, IAN JOHNSON, KATHRYN KERBY-FULTON, ROSALYNN VOADEN, NICHOLAS WATSON, DIANE WATT. |
Contents
NICHOLAS WATSON | 19 |
ROSALYNN VOADEN | 51 |
JOAN ISOBEL FRIEDMAN | 91 |
JANETTE DILLON | 115 |
DESPRES | 141 |
DIANE WATT | 161 |
IAN JOHNSON | 177 |
Common terms and phrases
active Ages appears authority Barton Book of Revelations Bridget of Sweden Brigittine Cambridge Carthusian Catherine Catherine of Siena century chapter Christ church Colledge concerning confession confessor contains Continental copy describes devotional directed discussion divine early edition Elizabeth Ellis England evidence example experience fact female further glosses grace hand Hildegard History holy illumination important includes influence initial Insular interest Italy late later Latin Liber Library lives London male manuscript Margery Kempe Mechtild Medieval Middle English miniature Mirror mystical notes nuns Order original passage prayer present Press prologue prophecy prophet question readers reading received reference relations religious response revelations Richard role Rule saint sche seems sisters soul spiritual St Bridget Studies suggests Syon textual tion tradition translation University visionary visions woman women writing written žat