Women and Religion in Late Medieval Norwich - (Royal Historical Society Studies in History New) by Carole Hill (Paperback)

About the Book

A vivid account of the nature and significance of intense female spirituality in one of England's greatest medieval cities.

Book Synopsis

A vivid account of the nature and significance of intense female spirituality in one of England's greatest medieval cities.

The religious attachments and charitable activity of women in and around late medieval Norwich are used here as a case study to consider women and religion in the period more generally. Drawing on uniquely rich and varied sources, the book demonstrates, far more fully and effectively than studies for other cities have been able to do, how links with continental Europe enriched female life. Norwich's successful status as an international depot - especiallyits trade with the Low Countries and with Germany -- became the vehicle for the transmission of various cults, artistic expression and books related to continental female mysticism. Norwich women's special attraction to aspects ofincarnational piety is demonstrated by their devotion to the Body of Christ and to his earthly family, exemplified by the popular cults of St Anne and her daughter, the Virgin Mary. The wealth of fifteenth-century literature, much of local provenance, which survives highlights both this and other religious preoccupations of Norwich women. Among them are, of course, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe, who are here reinterpreted within the wider context ofthe religious life of the medieval city, and of women's contributions to it.

CAROLE HILL gained her PhD from the University of East Anglia.

Review Quotes

Skillful, informative and thought provoking [...] Hill's creative use of material and testamentary, as well as literary and archival sources to recover the piety of women from social strata below that of the nobility and gentry make Women and Religion in Late Medieval Norwich an excellent textbook for university courses in medieval culture and religion, and medieval gender studies and women's studies.-- "MEDIEVAL REVIEW"

A powerful exposition of local and localized piety.-- "MEDIEVAL PROSOPOGRAPHY, vol. 28, 2013"

An interesting and thought-provoking book which throws new light on our understanding of the feminine aspects of religious life in the long fifteenth century.-- "THE RICARDIAN"

Contributes significantly to our understanding of medieval society, culture and beliefs.-- "ANNUAL BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL LITERATURE"

Offers a useful and detailed addition for scholars examining women's relationships with the cults of certain female saints and incarnational piety. It also sheds light on the pious practices of women from the social strata below that of the nobility or gentry.-- "URBAN HISTORY"

The intention of this book is to demonstrate the significance of Norwich as a well-connected mercantile community for the development of an organised cult of those saints with a particular resonance for women. In this it succeeds admirably.-- "HISTORIANS OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS, January 2013"