Vision of Light, A [Hardcover]

Judith Reilly (Author), Judith Merkle Riley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1988

The bestselling novel that introduces Margaret of Ashbury and launches a trilogy featuring this irrepressible woman

Margaret of Ashbury wants to write her life story. However, like most women in fourteenth-century England, she is illiterate. Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret’s scribe, and only the threat of starvation persuades Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar with a mysterious past, to take on the task. As she narrates her life, we discover a woman of startling resourcefulness. Married off at the age of fourteen to a merchant reputed to be the Devil himself, Margaret was left for dead during the Black Plague. Incredibly, she survived, was apprenticed to an herbalist, and became a midwife. But most astonishing of all, Margaret has experienced a Mystic Union—a Vision of Light that endows her with the miraculous gift of healing. Because of this ability, Margaret has become suddenly different—to her tradition-bound parents, to the bishop’s court that tries her for heresy, and ultimately to the man who falls in love with her.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this bouncy first novel, 14th century Englishwoman Margaret of Ashbury heeds a "voice" commanding her to compose her life story. Her kindly old husband Roger Kendall pays for her to dictate her memoirs to unfrocked Brother Gregory. Margaret's scribe grumbles initially about the story's "trivia, and everyday matters," but her adventures win him over. First married at 14 to a sadistic fur merchantreputed to be the Devilwho leaves her for dead during the Plague, Margaret survives to become apprenticed to the herbalist Mother Hilde. In trances of divine light Margaret gains the healing gift, and envisions a forged, steel-fingered weapon for the soldierly work of midwifery. But these forceps and Margaret's powers stir the envy of priests and male doctors, and she is forced to clear herself of witchcraft. The minor characters are stiff and the dialogue is stilted at times, but details of clothing, crafts and interiors, as well as period scenes peopled with robbers, flagellants and strolling players are well realized. Major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-- An appealing novel about Margaret of Ashbury, a 14th-century Englishwoman, who is inspired in a "vision of light" to write her memoirs and tell a woman's story. Unable to write, she hires Brother Gregory to record her memories. He is contemptuous of her ambition, but hungry enough to accept her offer. Riley's ingenious plot then alternates between Margaret's and Gregory's clashes in their present and her telling of her past. The story is fast paced, and the medieval setting is authentically portrayed, whether Riley is describing life on London Bridge, alchemy, or the Black Death. The touch is light, and the characters are charming. Margaret's refusal to accept the place to which her society condemns her rings as true in our century as it does in hers. --Sharon Mathieu, St. Cecilia's School, Houston
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 442 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (December 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440501091
• ISBN-13: 978-0440501091
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction with a religious twist, December 21, 2002

By 

M. M Roberts "mac" (Lawrence, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Vision of Light, A (Hardcover)

Although I typically do not like religious themes, A Vision of Light is so engaging that this aspect of the book seems to make it even better. The tale of Margaret, a 14h century woman who talks to God, is interesting and thought-provoking throughout. While Margaret's relationship with God is important throughout the book, it really centers on Margaret's strength, compassion, and presence of mind in difficult situations, as she struggles though a violent marriage, the black plague, and prosecution by the Church. Judith Merkle Riley has created a wonderful, memorable character who stays with the reader long after the book is closed. If you read this, the sequel, In Search of Green Lion, is a must, as well.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical and fun, August 23, 2002

By 

A. Lord "georgianlover" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vision of Light, A (Hardcover)

I love curling up with this book on a cold winter's night. It's the ultimate comfort food.

Margaret Kendall, Riley's heroine, is a wonderful creation. She is smart, clever, earnest in her desire to help others and gifted as a healer...all of which means that she will have a difficult time in medieval England. Her life story--as she progresses from a village girl to London midwife to merchant's wife---makes for wonderful reading.

It's a rare author who can tell a story like Margaret's without becoming overly sentimental---but Judith Merkle Riley is a gited writer who manages to bring the most fantastic characters to life without ever hitting a wrong note.

My only complaint abt the book is that Riley doesn't focus enough of the marriage of Roger Kendall and Margaret---Kendall is, I think, the perfect match for Margaret and the real hero of the novel. He is one of the only characters who truly sees Margaret as she is and cherishes her. I know---most readers would undoubtedly prefer Brother Gregory (or Gilbert) as the hero but Margaret and Kendall's match and marriage seem to be the stuff of romantic dreams.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rich read full of love, humour, and the joy of living!, April 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Vision of Light, A (Hardcover)

I absolutely loved this book, and it's sequel! It's actually one of my favorite books, which I discovered when browsing along in my local library. If you haven't read this one yet, definately go get a copy! It's the story of Margerate, a sensible, warm human being, who, under some bad luck, was married to an awful man. But after fighting of the plague, and her husband, she comes to live with a midwife in need of an assistant. While she is living there, she experiences 'vision of light', hence the title. After many more hardships, including being tested as a witch, and the church forbidding her to practice midwifry, she finally settles down with a jovial, wealthy merchant. For once, Margerate seems to live a quiet, steady lifestyle. That is, until she meets Brother Gregory . . .