One of the most important medieval writers studied in historical and literary context. Julian of Norwich, the fourteenth/early fifteenth-century anchoress and mystic, is one of the most important and best-known figures of the Middle Ages. Her Revelations, intense visions of the divine, have been widely studied and read; the first known writings of an English woman, their influence extends over theology and literature. However, many aspects of both her life and thought remain enigmatic. This exciting collection offers a comprehensive, accessible coverage of the key aspects of debate surrounding Julian. It places the author within a wide range of contemporary literary, social, historical and religious contexts, and also provides a wealth of new insights into manuscript traditions, perspectives on her writing and ways of interpreting it, building on the work of many of the most active and influential researchers within Julian studies, and including the fruits of the most recent, ground-breaking findings. It will therefore be a vital companion for all of Julian's readers in the twenty-first century. Dr LIZ HERBERT MCAVOY is Senior Lecturer in Gender in English and Medieval Studies at Swansea University. CONTRIBUTORS: KIM M. PHILLIPS, CATE GUNN, ALEXANDRA BARRATT, DENISE M. BAKER, DIANE WATT, E.A. JONES, ANNIE SUTHERLAND, BARRY WINDEATT, MARLEEN CRE, ELISABETH DUTTON, ELIZABETH ROBERTSON, LAURA SAETVEIT MILES, LIZ HERBERT MCAVOY, ENA JENKINS, VINCENT GILLESPIE, SARAH SALIH A book that amply rewards its readers with a helpful overview of the current state of Julian scholarship as well as a guide to fitting the many fascinating aspects of Julian's writing into a coherent whole. ― SIXTEENTH CENTURY JOURNAL The most significant contribution to Julian studies in 2008. ― YEAR'S WORK IN ENGLISH STUDIES It is good to have a study that places this so often most decontextualised of English mystics amongst contemporary writings and readers. ― JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY By honestly summarizing what we do know about Julian, and then providing a range of interesting interpretations of this, the volume is definitely a stimulating introduction to contemporary debates around Julian. [...] The book is an excellent companion [...]. ― PARERGON This Companion is most welcome. ― BULLETIN CODICOLOGIQUE This collection provides accessible coverage of a range of debates about this popular late medieval figure. Containing important new work and tracing well-known debates about Julian, it will be a useful companion for both teachers and researchers. ― JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY Provides a valuable examination of current debates about the facts and assumptions regarding Julian's life and texts. [...] I strongly recommend it as a library purchase for the use of serious researchers as well as teachers introducing their students to Julian. ― THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW It is refreshing to be reminded that scholarship is of value for its own sake, and can reveal insights in familiar texts that continue to awaken our attention to what God still seeks to reveal to us. The second half of the collection contains some fascinating observations on interpretation which really begin to dig deep into the genius of Julian and why she holds such attrac¬tion for us today. ― CHURCH TIMES Liz Herbert McAvoy is Professor Emerita of Medieval Literature at Swansea University, Wales, and honorary Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, England. She has published widely in the areas of medieval women's writing, medieval anchoritism and spirituality. ANNIE SUTHERLAND is Associate Professor, University of Oxford, and Tutorial Fellow in Old and Middle English, Somerville College. Professor Diane Watt is Head of the School of English and Languages, University of Surrey. Secretaries of God won the 1998 Foster Watson Memorial Gift. ELISABETH DUTTON is Professor of Medieval English at Fribourg, Switzerland. LAURA SAETVEIT MILES is professor of British Literature at the Department of Foreign Languages, University of Bergen, Norway.