Wise Women: Over Two Thousand Years of Spiritual Writing by Women [Hardcover]

Susan Cahill (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1996

Collecting more than two thousand years worth of women's words of wisdom, a unique anthology contains poetry, essays, prayers, letters, and memoirs concentrating on the liberation of spiritual awareness and written by eminent women from across the ages.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To assemble a representative sample of the world-wide breadth of women's spirituality from eras and cultures, Cahill has selected some 90 writings encompassing a wide variety of forms (essays, poems, prayers, journal entries, short stories and memoirs) and faiths (Judaism, Christianity?both Protestant and Catholic?Native American and Goddess spirituality, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism). Along with the more conventional touchstones of myth and tradition, the writings contain profound moments of conversion and intense epiphanies of personal revelation. The constellation of authors includes the expected?Sappho, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila?and the unexpected?Sun Bu-er, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Mirabai and bell hooks. But the volume is especially rich in contemporary selections, with Dorothy Sayers, Hannah Arendt, Iris Murdoch, Denise Levertov, Lucille Clifton, Marge Piercy and Rita Dove among its most notable voices. The result is a very satisfying anthology, illuminating and useful, that can be enjoyed just for the power of its insights into spirituality or can serve as the basis for historical study of women and religion as well as a valuable resource for writers concerned with religious themes.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In many religious traditions, the clamor of male priests and religious functionaries often overwhelms and silences the voices of religious women. Seeking to recover these voices, editor Cahill (Writing Women's Lives, LJ 4/15/94) has put together a beautiful tapestry of religious narratives ranging from medieval Christian mystic Teresa of Avila and Islamic poet Qurrat Al-'Ayn to novelist Tillie Olsen and poet Rita Dove. Cahill's collection of poems, stories, and essays is a rich and powerful testimony to the liberating power of divine love and justice in the lives of women. Highly recommended for all libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 395 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 2nd prt. edition (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393039463
• ISBN-13: 978-0393039467
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #668,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Anyone Interested in Women's Spirituality of Any Faith, August 27, 2009

By 

L. Erickson "Mommy Mystic" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wise Women: Over Two Thousand Years of Spiritual Writing by Women (Paperback)

This book is really breathtaking in its scope, covering women's spiritual writing throughout recorded history, from every major world religion, and some lesser known traditions as well. She of course includes writings from most of the well-known medieval Christian women mystics, and excerpts from well-known women saints in Buddhism, Sufism, and Hinduism also (Judaism isn't represented much - check out Tirzah Firestone's The Receiving for that.) Most of these mystics I was already familiar with, but I was thrilled to discover some new ones from other traditions, such as Sun Buer, a Taoist immortal. I was also glad to see modern women richly represented, and discovered many new women in this section.

For the most part Cahill lets the writings stand on their own, offering brief introductions that provide some historical context. In this way the book is both scholarly and personal, and can be read for history or inspiration. It's also a good book to dip in and out of, depending on what you need. I recommend it for anyone interested in either women's spirituality or religious history.

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD, July 20, 2001

By 

A. Y. Smittle (Winchester, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wise Women: Over Two Thousand Years of Spiritual Writing by Women (Paperback)

This is a wonderful books that explores women in spirituality and their different areas of spirituality and religion--how they interpreted their Divine Spirit and relationship with him/her/it. I give this book to my spiritual friends--- and is also a GREAT book to read and reflect on in the BUBBLEBATH! If that sounds sacriligeous, I beg your pardon! If I spelled sacriligous wrong, I beg your pardon! It has the gamit of women through the ages: From Sappho (?) to women mystics, to Mother Theresa and Starhawk. Read it and get educated!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, November 17, 2010

By 

Mountaineer "Ridge Runner" (Warwood, WV) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wise Women: Over Two Thousand Years of Spiritual Writing by Women (Hardcover)

Haven't finished reading it yet, however what I have read is inspirational. A lot of research. You just go girls :)