About the book
Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death investigates the tension between death as necessary for bringing about union with God and as the end of life on earth.
For medieval Christians, only death could offer complete union with God. For medieval women in particular, death was figured as a desirable end to their embodied lives; at least, this is the story told by the clergymen who typically wrote their biographies. Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death questions this assumption and studies visionary narratives, treatises, and spiritual reflections by and about medieval Christian women from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries to reveal how these women understood their own deaths and how their depictions conformed to or departed from the stories told about them.
Rather than focusing on externalities like rituals, revenants, or miracles, Jessica Barr instead tackles the desire for death from the inside, seeking to elucidate the ways in which medieval people anticipated or experienced biological death on a personal level. In narrating their spiritual lives within the framework of deeply held Christian beliefs, these medieval women mystics illustrate how theology and experience converge—and, not infrequently, diverge.
Editions of Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780268210946
- EBook
- ISBN 9780268210960
Read an Excerpt
Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death investigates the tension between death as necessary for bringing about union with God and as the end of life on earth.
For medieval Christians, only death could offer complete union with God. For medieval women in particular, death was figured as a desirable end to their embodied lives; at least, this is the story told by the clergymen who typically wrote their biographies. Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death questions this assumption and studies visionary narratives, treatises, and spiritual reflections by and about medieval Christian women from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries to reveal how these women understood their own deaths and how their depictions conformed to or departed from the stories told about them.
Rather than focusing on externalities like rituals, revenants, or miracles, Jessica Barr instead tackles the desire for death from the inside, seeking to elucidate the ways in which medieval people anticipated or experienced biological death on a personal level. In narrating their spiritual lives within the framework of deeply held Christian beliefs, these medieval women mystics illustrate how theology and experience converge—and, not infrequently, diverge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death about?
Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death investigates the tension between death as necessary for bringing about union with God and as the end of life on earth.
For medieval Christians, only death could offer complete union with God. For medieval women in particular, death was figured as a desirable end to their embodied lives; at least, this is the story told by the clergymen who typically wrote their biographies. Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death questions this assumption and studies visionary narratives, treatises, and spiritual reflections by and about medieval Christian women from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries to reveal how these women understood their own deaths and how their depictions conformed to or departed from the stories told about them.
Rather than focusing on externalities like rituals, revenants, or miracles, Jessica Barr instead tackles the desire for death from the inside, seeking to elucidate the ways in which medieval people anticipated or experienced biological death on a personal level. In narrating their spiritual lives within the framework of deeply held Christian beliefs, these medieval women mystics illustrate how theology and experience converge—and, not infrequently, diverge.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death?
History and Archaeology > History > European history > European history: medieval period, middle ages
Where can I read a sample of Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780268210946
How long is Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death and how many pages does it have?
Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death has 288 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death?
Jessica Barr
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780268210946) and ebook(ISBN 9780268210960)
Where can I buy Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Medieval Holy Women and the Desire for Death?