The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery Kempe
Translated by Anthony Bale

Oxford World's Classics

A lively new translation of one of the most important texts of the Middle Ages, and the first surviving autobiography in English, with full supporting editorial material.
Margery Kempe's Book opens a window into life in the Middle Ages and a distinctive record of popular religion, women's spirituality, travel, pilgrimage practices, and the vibrant world of late medieval East Anglia, England, and Europe.
Highly readable translation for non-specialist and student alike that preserves the author's forceful narrative voice.
Wide-ranging introduction that discusses Kempe and her status as a woman writer and proto-feminist, the historical context, medieval pilgrimage and travel, audience and reception.
Full notes, up-to-date bibliography, chronology showing key moments in the authorship, translation, and reception of the text, map of Kempe's travels, glossary and indexes.

The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery Kempe
Translated by Anthony Bale

Description

"Alas that I ever did sin! It is so merry in Heaven!"

The Book of Margery Kempe (c. 1436-8) is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother, and mystic. Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, Kempe's Book describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed businesswoman and lustful young wife, to devout and chaste pilgrim. She vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome and Jerusalem.

In her life and her boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she also garnered friends and supporters who helped to record her experiences. Her Book opens a window to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman's life, aspirations, and prayers. This new translation preserves the forceful narrative voice of Kempe's Book and includes a wide-ranging introduction and useful notes.

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The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery Kempe
Translated by Anthony Bale

Oxford World's Classics

Author Information

Anthony Bale studies at the universities of Oxford and York and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has published widely on various medieval topics, including Christian-Jewish relations, the poetry of Chaucer and Lydgate, religion in East Anglia, and fifteenth-century literature and pilgrimage. He is the editor of Mandeville's Book of Marvels and Travels from Oxford World's Classics, and in 2011 was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize.

The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery Kempe
Translated by Anthony Bale

Oxford World's Classics

From Our Blog

The paradox of Margery Kempe

After a period of chastity, Margery Kempe's husband described one of those hypothetical scenarios that couples sometimes use to test each other. 'Margery, if a man came with a sword and wanted to chop off my head unless I had sexual intercourse with you as I used to before, ['¦] [would you] allow my head to be chopped off, or else allow me to have sex with you as I previously did?'

Posted on July 24, 2017

Read the blog post

The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery Kempe
Translated by Anthony Bale

Oxford World's Classics

Audio Guide

In this Oxford World's Classics audio guide, we interviewed Anthony Bale, Professor of Medieval Studies at Birkbeck College and the translator of our new edition of The Book of Margery Kempe.

The Book of Margery Kempe (c. 1436-8) is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother, and mystic. Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, Kempe's Book describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed businesswoman and lustful young wife to devout and chaste pilgrim. She vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome and Jerusalem.

Click on the links below to hear Anthony's interview and to find out more about the extraordinary life of Margery Kempe.