by Mary Sharratt (Author)
The unforgettable story of how Hildegard of Bingen, Benedictine abbess and polymath, triumphed against impossible odds to become the greatest woman of her age.
Hildegard experienced mystic visions from a very young age.
Offered by her noble family to the Church at the age of eight, she lived for years in forced silence. But through the study of books and herbs, through music and the kinship of her sisters, Hildegard found her way from a life of submission to a calling that celebrated the divine glories all around us. An outspoken critic of political and ecclesiastical corruption, she courted controversy and nearly died an excommunicant. Her courage and originality of thought continue to inspire today.
In this brilliantly researched and insightful novel, Mary Sharratt combines fiction, history, and Hildegardian philosophy into a moving portrait of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed, a triumphant exploration of the life she might well have lived.
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FRONT COVER
"[A] lovely, deeply felt depiction of a humble woman who survives darkness to give her heart to the world." Minneapolis Star Tribune
BACK COVER
"Sharratt brings one of the most famous and enigmatic women of the Middle Ages to vibrant life in this tour de force, which will captivate the reader from the very first page." Sharon Kay Penman
One could not anticipate this majesty and drama . . . Illuminations is riveting, following von Bingen through . . . to emerge as one of the significant voices of the 12th century . . . Unforgettable." January Magazine
One of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages, Hildegard von Bingen Benedictine abbess, healer, composer, saint experienced mystic visions from a very young age. Offered by her noble family to the Church at the age of eight, she lived for years in forced silence. But through the study of books and herbs, through music and the kinship of her sisters, Hildegard found her way from a life of submission to a calling that celebrated the divine glories all around us. In this brilliantly researched andinsightful novel, Mary Sharratt offers a deeply moving portrait of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed, a triumphant exploration of the life she might well have lived.
Gripping . . . Like Ann Patchett s Bel Canto, [Illuminations] is primarily about relationships forged under pressure." Publishers Weekly
Masterful." Saint Paul Pioneer Press
The author of four critically acclaimed novels, MARY SHARRATT is an American who lived for twelve years in Germany, which, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write Illuminations.
Author photograph (c) Reg Whitman
Mariner
www.marinerbooks.com
$14.95
ISBN 978-0-544-10653-6
Fiction
1013/1540823
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Author Biography
The author of four critically acclaimed novels, MARY SHARRATT is an American who lived for twelve years in Germany, which, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write Illuminations.