Welcome to Litsy!

Set in 1414, this is a really interesting short novel about the imagined intersection of the medieval lives of Margery Kempe ( who published the first ever autobiography) and Julian of Norwich - who wrote the earliest surviving book in English written by a woman.

Fascinating from the historical perspective! I‘m not religious so some of the medieval shenanigans around religious rules and expectations make my eyes roll a bit- but an interesting read.
A 15th century copy of Margery Kempe‘s manuscript fell out of a cupboard in an old country house when someone was looking for a ping pong ball. Because we all have 15thC manuscripts in the cupboard.

5 ⭐️s
Sectioned into three parts, we follow Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe as they journey through life and eventually meet. This novella is nothing short of genius, depicting these two women as they try to know God without access to the Bible and how they deal with all the issues within the Catholic Church. Poetic, raw, beautiful. It will leave you asking questions but still feeling answered.

JULIAN

After the death of my husband and child, my mother and I wept together. I thought of Simon and Elizabeth, and she thought of my father and William and Bethy. I understood then that they had never left her thoughts and never would. Grief marks a person, changing them for ever, like a tree struck by light- ning. The tree may keep growing, but never in the same way.

Loved this because it made me so conflicted .... was I supposed to dislike Margery Kemp so much? I loved Julian the Anchoress! Is this a normal response to these women???? Anybody read this and feel the same? Corey, my cat, had no strong feelings on the matter 🙄🐈‍⬛

♥️ Happy Valentines. Hubby‘s gifts to me. Always an acceptable reason for more books.