Illuminations

Plot

FRONT COVER"[A] lovely, deeply felt depiction of a humble woman who survives darkness to give her heart to the world." Minneapolis Star Tribune BACK COVER "Sharratt brings one of the most famous and enigmatic women of the Middle Ages to vibrant life in this tour de force, which will captivate the reader from the very first page." Sharon Kay Penman One could not anticipate this majesty and drama . . . Illuminations is riveting, following von Bingen through . . . to emerge as one of the significant voices of the 12th century . . . Unforgettable." January Magazine One of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages, Hildegard von Bingen Benedictine abbess, healer, composer, saint experienced mystic visions from a very young age. Offered by her noble family to the Church at the age of eight, she lived for years in forced silence. But through the study of books and herbs, through music and the kinship of her sisters, Hildegard found her way from a life of submission to a calling that celebrated the divine glories all around us. In this brilliantly researched andinsightful novel, Mary Sharratt offers a deeply moving portrait of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed, a triumphant exploration of the life she might well have lived. Gripping . . . Like Ann Patchett s Bel Canto, [Illuminations] is primarily about relationships forged under pressure." Publishers Weekly Masterful." Saint Paul Pioneer Press The author of four critically acclaimed novels, MARY SHARRATT is an American who lived for twelve years in Germany, which, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write Illuminations. Author photograph (c) Reg Whitman Marinerwww.marinerbooks.com$14.95ISBN 978-0-544-10653-6Fiction1013/1540823 "