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.

Anthony Bale on The Book of Margery Kempe

Introducing Margery Kempe

• When and how was The Book of Margery Kempe first discovered?[2:34]
• Who was Margery Kempe? What sort of woman was she?[3:33]
• What would life have been like for a middle class medieval woman? [2:14]
• What do we learn from Margery Kempe about medieval marriage?[5:13]

The Book

• Is The Book of Margery Kempe really an autobiography?[3:29]
• What sort of language was The Book originally written in? [4:22]
• What does The Book of Margery Kempe offer readers in the 21st century? [4:09]

Anthony Bale reads extracts from The Book of Margery Kempe

• Beer, Cake and Chastity[1:25]
• A Thoroughly Medieval Marriage [2:02]
• "Hounded by Devils" [2:02]
• "Two Handsome Men" [2:02]

Listen to the interview in full [32:58]