Customer Reviews

The Book of Margery Kempe (Norton Critical Editions)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this edition of the "Book of Margery Kempe" after consulting two other editions, one in the original Middle English, and one that attempted to modernize the text to make it more accessible. This edition is the best of both worlds. Lynn Staley provides an accessible, readable text while staying true to the original content. Staley's footnotes are also very helpful, providing information about people, places, and events discussed by Kempe. Also included in this volume is a selection of scholarly essays about the "Book of Margery Kempe" and examples of other writings of the early 15th Century. All in all, a lot of information in one volume, very useful, and reasonably priced. I'd recommend this for anyone interested in women in the later Middle Ages, female visionary experience in Christianity, and/or early examples of autobiography in English. I don't know if this volume will be accessible to high school students, but it's certainly appropriate for undergrads, graduate students, and anyone else interested in the fascinating figure of Margery Kempe.

I give this book five stars primarily because it is such an irreplaceable classic. One does not award 400 year old autobiographies anything less. Margery Kempe presents a realistic look at the life of an average medieval woman of the upper class, apart from any religious content that the book possesses. I would caution readers that Margery is prone to wailing outbursts on many occasions that most reviewers fail to mention. If one doesn't mind her obnoxious behavior, then Margery Kempe's autobiography can be enjoyed on many levels, from pure entertainment to spiritual enlightenment.

It was a great book, had critical essays in the back which helped me. interesting. it is all about a woman who was given the "gift" of tears in the middle ages...her struggles and her pilgrimages. Aslo, she has 14Kids! Yipes!

Just wanted to point out: Margery Kempe was actually extremely wealthy, not "lower class." There is evidence that John Kempe married her for her money. She was the operator of a brewery, which also provided a great deal of income. Lower class medieval women usually didn't have the means to travel around evangelizing.

A curious book - but I expected that it would be, such philosophical writings always are. They add to one's perspective on the world we know now - so very different.

At first, I rather enjoyed this book - Margery Kempe is quite kooky. But reading more and more, Margery just became annoying, especially with all her weeping. Is it any wonder that no one wanted to travel with her? Or that she was arrested so often? Did she really think her activities would win people to God? Or am I just guilty of being another one of her persecutors?