To Be a Pilgrim: The Medieval Pilgrimage Experience

by Sarah C. Hopper

This illustrated introductory survey of pilgrimage looks at the reasons for its popularity and explores the medieval pilgrimage experience. The author explains that pilgrim's motives were many and varied: some went through genuine piety or to expiate great crimes; others to satisfy their restlessness or to kill time; many went simply to escape from poverty, squalor and oppression and to enjoy the privileges enjoyed by pilgrims. The top destinations for western Christians are discussed, including the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Our Lady of Loretto near Rome, Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Becket's shrine in Canterbury. This book is illustrated throughout with images from medieval art, surviving artefacts such as pilgrim's badges, maps of the routes taken and photographs of the sites and shrines visited.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medieval

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002