Revelations of Divine Love
Revelations of Divine Love is a medieval book of Christian mystical devotions. Containing 87 chapters, the work was written between the 14th and 15th centuries by Julian of Norwich, about whom almost nothing is known. It is the earliest surviving example of a book in the English language known to have been written by a woman. It is also the earliest surviving work written by an English anchorite or anchoress.
David Holgate's modern statue of Julian of Norwich, depicted holding a copy of Revelations of Divine Love. It was added to the west front of Norwich Cathedral in 2000.
Part of the first chapter of the Long Text (BL, Sloane 2499)
Image: XVI Revelations of Divine Love (title page, 1670 edition)
Image: The front page of Revelations of Divine Love (c. 1675, Serenus de Cressey)
Julian of Norwich, also known as Juliana of Norwich, the Lady Julian, Dame Julian or Mother Julian, was an English anchoress of the Middle Ages. Her writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English language works by a woman, although it is possible that some anonymous works may have had female authors. They are also the only surviving English language works by an anchoress.
David Holgate's statue of Julian, outside Norwich Cathedral, completed in 2000
A bishop blessing an anchoress, from MS 079: Pontifical (c. 1400 – c. 1410), Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
First edition of XVI Revelations of Divine Love (1670)
The entrance to the modern cell
