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The Book of Margery Kempe: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions) Paperback – November 10, 2000

by Margery Kempe (Author), Lynn Staley (Editor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 45 ratings
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The text presented here remains as faithful to the original Middle English as possible, without sounding archaic.

Kempe's work is accompanied by an introduction, a map of medieval England, a Kempe lexicon, and explanatory annotations.

"Contexts" collects primary readings that illuminate The Book of Margery Kempe.  Included are excerpts from The Constitutions of Thomas Arundel, Meditations on the Life of Christ, The Shewings of Julian of Norwich, The Book of Saint Bride, and The Life of Marie d'Oignies by Jacques de Vitry.

"Criticism" includes nine varied interpretations of the autobiography, written by Clarissa W. Atkinson, Lynn Staley, Karma Lochrie, David Aers, Kathleen Ashley, Gail McMurray Gibson, Sarah Beckwith, Caroline Walker Bynum, and Nicholas Watson.

A Selected Bibliography is also included.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    328 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    5.1 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393976394
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393976397
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The text presented here remains as faithful to the original Middle English as possible, without sounding archaic. Kempe's work is accompanied by an introduction, a map of medieval England, a Kempe lexicon, and explanatory annotations. Contexts collects primary readings that illuminate The Book of Margery Kempe. Included are excerpts from The Constitutions of Thomas Arundel, Meditations on the Life of Christ, The Shewings of Julian of Norwich, The Book of Saint Bride, and The Life of Marie d'Oignies by Jacques de Vitry. Criticism includes nine varied interpretations of the autobiography, written by Clarissa W. Atkinson, Lynn Staley, Karma Lochrie, David Aers, Kathleen Ashley, Gail McMurray Gibson, Sarah Beckwith, Caroline Walker Bynum, and Nicholas Watson. A Selected Bibliography is also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehenive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (November 10, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393976394
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393976397
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 45 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
45 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Seckmea
5.0 out of 5 stars school book
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
It was a great book, had critical essays in the back which helped me. interesting. it is all about a woman who was given the "gift" of tears in the middle ages...her struggles and her pilgrimages. Aslo, she has 14Kids! Yipes!
3 people found this helpful
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Wolfie
5.0 out of 5 stars Very happy with this
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
Needed this book for a college class and I was able to find it for a more affordable price than the college offered. Very happy with this.
One person found this helpful
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emily piereman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2015
Verified Purchase
As advertised!
One person found this helpful
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Claire M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent edition of the "Book of Margery Kempe"
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2011
Verified Purchase
I purchased this edition of the "Book of Margery Kempe" after consulting two other editions, one in the original Middle English, and one that attempted to modernize the text to make it more accessible. This edition is the best of both worlds. Lynn Staley provides an accessible, readable text while staying true to the original content. Staley's footnotes are also very helpful, providing information about people, places, and events discussed by Kempe. Also included in this volume is a selection of scholarly essays about the "Book of Margery Kempe" and examples of other writings of the early 15th Century. All in all, a lot of information in one volume, very useful, and reasonably priced. I'd recommend this for anyone interested in women in the later Middle Ages, female visionary experience in Christianity, and/or early examples of autobiography in English. I don't know if this volume will be accessible to high school students, but it's certainly appropriate for undergrads, graduate students, and anyone else interested in the fascinating figure of Margery Kempe.
31 people found this helpful
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A customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Needs a little perseverance but
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2020
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It's worth it to (try to) understand what life was like back then and how religion was the foundation for many lives.
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Kindle Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Never Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
Browsed through the book and it did not appeal to me. It is on the shelf and maybe one day I will read it.
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No.
3.0 out of 5 stars An academic-lense might be the best way to read this...if not, a religious lense.
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2013
Review: Phew, what a book! I have to admit that my mind automatically shuts off when it comes to reading books with religious content, as it is just not my thing (and also because I am very lacking in religious knowledge in general). It's safe to say that if it hadn't been for university, I would have never valued this text as much as I do. Hooray for discussing and essay writing!

The drawbacks: The travels of this woman are spread out of the course of decades, and it does tend to get repetitive around the end - but this is for a valid reason that I will later discuss. There is a lot of sobbing and wailing that goes on in this text - and when I highlight this point, it means that there is more than a handful. This makes it rather difficult for one to remain patient with Kempe as it seems as though she cannot help at crying at the sight of a newly born son (for it reminds her of Jesus) or for wailing in church, thereby disrupting the procession. Suffice to say, she is quite a character. Along with these two drawbacks, I would say that the work drags itself on for a tad too long. Imagine the monk who transcribed her speeches!

Margery Kempe must of have been a woman of strong character. She starts off her book by retelling what she was like prior to the revelations she experienced — she tells us she was foolish, conspicuous and daring (she mentions her outlandish style of dress). Her nature as an illiterate yet hardworking and unfatigued individual however, remains a consistent trait throughout her journey. Through my discussions in class I was able to appreciate this character of hers, so rare to be found in a woman who lived during her time.
It is clear that Kempe faced many challenges throughout the course of her pilgrimage - she was a woman traveling many a times alone, claiming to be receiving divine messages from God and the Virgin Mary; of course she would be taunted at and be marked as a witch! I came to the conclusion that because of her status as a woman, her illiteracy stood in the way of her having a church-based relationship with her god, and she instead channeled her love for Him through her emotions, which would certainly make sense of her constant crying and emotional breakdowns. I really did like her as a character - but I think you either despise her completely or you appreciate her, it's very black or white.

As for the translation from Old English, I'd say it's fairly well done. It's not completely modern, but easy to understand. And this is coming from someone who absolutely despises Old English!

Wrap up: Would I read this book again? No. Did I think it was good? Yes. It's strange situation isn't it? I suppose the only time I will ever come to face with this text again is through the world of academia. And in that context, I don't think I would mind analyzing and writing about her book once more.
If you are of Christian faith or you are simply interested in this sort of reading, this may be something to look into. That being said, do not think this will be a quick stroll through the park. If you're looking for an interesting approach to the feminist lens, this is an option. Kempe's capacity as a woman to smoothly whisk herself out of harmful and toxic situations and somehow be able to have control over much of what happens to her is a rare thing to find in any text of this sort.
12 people found this helpful
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