Voice of the Living Light: Hildegard of Bingen and Her World / Edition 1

by Barbara Newman

Overview

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) would have been an extraordinary person in any age. But for a woman of the twelfth century her achievements were so exceptional that posterity has found it hard to take her measure. Barbara Newman, a premier Hildegard authority, brings major scholars together to present an accurate portrait of the Benedictine nun and her many contributions to twelfth-century religious, cultural, and intellectual life. Written by specialists in fields ranging from medieval theology to medicine to music, these essays offer an understanding of how one woman could transform so many of the traditions of the world in which she lived.

Hildegard of Bingen was the only woman of her age accepted as an authoritative voice on Christian doctrine as well as the first woman permitted by the pope to write theological books. She was the author of the first known morality play; an artist of unusual talents; the most prolific chant composer of her era; and the first woman to write extensively on natural science and medicine, including sexuality as seen from a female perspective. She was the only woman of her time to preach openly to mixed audiences of clergy and laity, and the first saint whose biography includes a first-person memoir.

Adding to the significance of this volume is the fact that Hildegard's oeuvre reflects the entire sweep of twelfth-century culture and society. Scholars and lay readers alike will find this collection a rich introduction to a remarkable figure and to her tumultuous world. With the commemoration of the 900th anniversary of Hildegard's birth in September 1998, the publication of Voice of the Living Light is especially welcome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520217584
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	09/30/1998
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	275
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Barbara Newman is Professor of English and Religion at Northwestern University. Among her many works are Sister of Wisdom: St. Hildegard's Theology of the Feminine (California, 1987, second edition 1997) and From Virile Woman to WomanChrist: Studies in Medieval Religion and Literature (1995).

Table of Contents

CONTRIBUTORS:
Madeline Caviness Florence Eliza Glaze Margot Fassler Joan Ferrante

What People are Saying About This

Grover Zinn

A well-crafted and keenly focused overview of Saint Hildegard's life and thought. The contributors adhere to the highest standards of scholarship, write with engagement and clarity, offer new insights, provide a good sense of earlier interpretations, and furnish both provocative insights and excellent clues for further exploration into the subject. -- Oberlin College