Julian of Norwich's Showings

The first woman known to have written in English, the fourteenth-century mystic Julian of Norwich has inspired generations of Christians with her reflections on the motherhood of Jesus, and her assurance that, despite evil, all shall be well. In this book, Denise Baker reconsiders Julian not only as an eloquent and profound visionary but also as an evolving, sophisticated theologian of great originality. Focusing on Julian's Book of Showings, in which the author records a series of revelations she received during a critical illness in May 1373, Baker provides the first historical assessment of Julian's significance as a writer and thinker. Baker guides her reader ... through the intricacies of medieval devotional culture and theology; every point is made very thoroughly.... The rigor of this historical assessment is impressive.DLJulian Gibbs, The [London] Times Baker's book offers one of the fullest accounts so far of the theological genealogy and implications of Julian's Showings.DLKarma Lochrie, American Historical Review An important contribution to the study of women's intellectual achievements and to the history of the body; students of medieval theology will quarry its rich insight into Julian's Showings, a work of uncommon literary force and of enduring theological significance.DLAnna Harrison, CrisisDenise Nowakowski Baker is the author of 'Julian of Norwich's Showings', published 1994 under ISBN 9780691036311 and ISBN 0691036314.