Julian of Norwich: A Contemplative Biography

by Amy Frykholm

In 1373, a thirty-year-old woman named Julian, living in East Anglia, England, began receiving visions--what she later called "sixteen showings"--that revealed to her the reality of the love of God. When she wrote these down, they became the first English-language book ever written by a woman. In this groundbreaking biograohy, AMy Frykholm recreates Julian's world and paints a vivid picture of a remarkable woman's place in it.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Spirituality, History, Religion, Theology, Faith

147 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Amy Frykholm is an American writer whose four books of non-fiction have covered the territory of American religion from apocalypticists to saints. She is an award winning writer and senior editor for the magazine The Christian Century, appears frequently on television and radio programs as an expert in American religion, and has lectured widely on subjects like the Rapture, purity culture, and lost female figures in Christianity. She has a PhD in Literature from Duke University.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this short book (which is more of a contemplative book than a biography) last evening. I am quite devoted to Julian of Norwich (c. 1342 – c. 1416), who in 14th century England wrote Revelations of Divine Love, believed to be the earliest surviving book written in the English language by a woman. And I very much enjoyed reading this book.

It is not quite accurate to say that the author took liberties with the known facts of Julian’s life, because very little indeed is known of Julian, including her social status, her ability to read and write, or even her name (her anchorage was attached to the Church of St. Julian in Norwich). Rather than regarding the lack of facts as a limiting factor, the author instead chose to weave her story of the life of Julian around what is know of Norwich (the second largest city in England before the Black Plague), medieval life, and how Julian herself may have seen herself and her visions. Her theology was not written for the theologians; while deferring to Holy Mother Church, she spoke of God’s love in terms of joy and compassion for her “even Christians”, that is, for the common person. The saying, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”, which Julian claimed to be said to her by God himself, reflects her theology. It is one of the most famous lines in Catholic theological writing and is one of the best-known phrases of the literature of her era.

I recommend this book as a wonderful introduction to Julian for those who may not know of her; for those who know and love her, it’s a good addition to one’s bookshelves.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

As anyone who has delved into Julian will probably tell you, there is very little about her life that we can know for certain. We know she was a fourteenth century anchorite and that her Showings(or revelations) are universally praised for their beauty and depth. Rowan Williams has said that "Julian's Revelations may well be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English Language." Yet when we try to untangle the details of her personal life, we have scant documentary evidence about who this Julian of Norwich really is.

In Julian of Norwich: A Contemplative Biography , Amy Frykholm does the impossible and presents us a sensitive and sympathetic vision of the beloved anchorite. Through eleven 'windows' she draws on various passages from Julian's revelations and sketches a portrait of her, placing in her in her historical context. She is able to show, convincingly, the backdrop of the plague, the culture of Norwich and Julian's religious education, and devotion to the life of prayer. At times Frykholm gives a carefully reasoned account, at other times this book is an imagined retelling, but in either case her picture of Julian is thoroughly realistic and judicious.

I found the picture that Julian that emerges here thoroughly compelling and it makes me want to return again to Julian's Revelations so that I can read it with fresh eyes. Julian's devotional and prayer life is compelling and makes me want to approach prayer with the same attention and expectancy. And so I heartedly recommend this book to three sorts of readers:

Those who love Julian will appreciate Frykholm's prose for the ways she lovingly, imaginatively and sensitively handles Julian and giving us a glimpse of her character. It is a beautiful book.

Those who have attempted to read Julian's Revelations of Divine Love and have found her too difficult and ethereal. This is not a commentary on the Revelations, but it does draw on material of Julian's and contextualizes it. I love Julian and found that reading this book helps me see aspects of Julian with fresh eyes.

Lastly, I would recommend this to those who would love to read Julian but are looking for a short simple introduction of her first. This book would serve you well.

In case you missed it, I am recommending this book to anyone who has even a remote interest in Julian because it is readable, well-researched, imaginative and sympathetic to Julian.

Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for this review. I know this review sounds overly positive, but they didn't tell me to say nice things. The book is just that good.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read a new book about Julian of Norwich and Marjorie Kempe, For Thy Great Pain, Have Mercy on My Little Pain, by Victoria MacKenzie, and I gave it five stars and bought myself a real, paper, version. Then I read Margery Kempe, which I had never done in full, though my daughter had, for a medieval history degree. Then I turned to this book. Marvellous, as medieval history. Marvellous as a woman's religious story. Marvellous as a link between habits of thought and worldviews in the fourteenth and twenty first centuries. Marvellously well written.
How can I give it more than five stars? Five plus stars from me. Amy Frykholm, you are a gem.
Now I am rereading Julian’s own book, Revelations of Divine Love, with renewed appreciation and understanding.

[Laura Fabrycky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read.

[Benjamin Dueholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Terence Malick isn't busy he should make a movie of this book. It's a beautiful, earthy, imaginative yet restrained essay on a great mystic whose life is not well known in detail but whose world and whose thought are marvelously reconstructed here.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the sensory imaginings of what life may have been like for Julian. This book is beautifully done and brimming with the humble wisdom that draws many of us to the writings of Julian of Norwich.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I started this book at some point, then stopped. Then took it up again and marked it finished, but with no review. I have now read it through, concluding that if I "finished" it before, I don't remember doing it, and now that I've read it thoroughly, I'm quite sure that I didn't read it, at least in its entirety, until now.

The book is a innovative story of Julian of Norwich. Amy Frykholm, using the few historical facts of Julian's life, has couched it in a story with believable descriptions of how life would have been in julian's time. Even though one can't say, with certainty, that things happened in the way described, the author surely has made it plausible. As a professed Oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich, I found the author's book extremely well done. She makes Julian very "real" and Julian's teaching the more inspiring.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book breathed life into a person I had only vaguely heard of before. It is amazing how some things in life are the same throughout the centuries. Julian’s words and struggles felt immensely relatable to me in 2018. I recognize some of the author’s theories about Julian’s life can only be that because there is so little biographical info available (and some would disagree with her conclusions), but Amy Frykholm’s Julian feels so real: alive and tangible.

[Ethan Mandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating meditation on Julian of Norwich. Delves into the life of medieval Norwich, the plague, and other influences behind Julian's writing and transformation. Absolutely loved this book, and it has inspired me to read further into her.

[Susy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start with the words that supposedly traveled with Julian's book; "All shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of all things shall be well." Good words, definitely needed at this moment in time.

I read this book for a book club for my Episcopal Education for Ministry group. It was a quick and easy and spellbinding read. I didn't know what to expect, but I've heard Julian's name come up more than once in my Benedictine Oblate meetings, so I figured the sign was there that it was time to read it.

A phrase that grabbed me on page 33 (electronic book) was "love-yearning." Her basic desire for God that could not be rubbed away.

It says; "An anchoress was instructed to live slowly - to make each act a deliberate one. The raising of her arms in her first prayers, the movement to her knees, the recitation of the first psalms: "O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth they praise" - were all done in slow, prayerful motion." I loved this, it reminded my of one of my favorite priests who always advised us to walk slower during Lent. I always think of this during Lent, always, and now I can spread it out to every part of the year. The slower one moves, the more one can take it of their surroundings. Be present.

From page 73 - Her expertise became discernment. She knew the way that the Holy Spirit spoke through a "rest in soul and a quietness in conscience." Another highlight I made in the book.

Well worth the read. I appreciate someone who could devote herself to God and prayer and her writing (especially when it was forbidden) and live in isolation in her tiny hut. I have to wonder what our world would be like if we all had to live like she did, even for one month. I'm guessing it might make "all shall be well" a little easier to do.

[Fernanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated with the history of anchorites. The idea that someone would choose to be walled up and never leave her little cell for the rest of her life really interests me. I read a fiction book based on a true story a while back (I can't remember the title) - in that case the anchoress was forced into it and I was really outraged.

I never knew that Julian of Norwich was an anchoress. I knew a lot of the quotes attributed to her but didn't know much about her life. This book gave me a good idea about her life and about her reason to become an anchoress. All indicates to this being her choice. The truth is, yes she was removed physically from the community in a way. However, she was very much part of the community. They mutually benefited from her service - she provided advice and prayers and the community provided her with goods and small donations.

I am still very intrigued by this subject and will be reading more about it. I also have purchased Julian's book - "Revelations of Divine Love" - because I want to learn more about her visions and how she interpreted them. After all, the visions and the need to meditate on them without external interruptions is one of the main reasons she decided to remove herself from the world.

This was book was super easy to read and I feel whet my appetite for learning about Julian and also learning more about the anchorites. The religion part of does not necessarily play a part in my interest, as I am not catholic. It is more about the motivations of the individuals who actually chose to go into this arrangement that fascinates me.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic & thoroughly researched. I did not expect to connect with Julian so powerfully. A few moments to remember—

“The God of her visions and the God of the church to which she was devoted contradicted each other, sometimes painfully”

“Every one of them struggled with the dichotomy of Mary and Martha—they wanted more time to devote to spiritual things, but their households demanded much”

“As she prayed, she began to see her error. She should not pray for any one person or any one circumstance. Instead, God was the ground of her prayer”

“Most people failed… in believing that God was all love”

“She had learned to detect in everything—the calendula growing bright orange in the hedgerow, the tiny gooseberries, the garlic mustard in her porridge—the presence of God”

[Máithrín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and thought-inspiring. Frykholm weaves a beautiful tale with a wonderful selection of well-known and lesser known pull quotes put in context.

While biographical and geographic details abound, they never feel forced. It's so organic that you can just get lost in the story, while in hindsight Frykholm shows amazing restraint. There is no delusion of grandeur--just the real simplicity of its reality.

I had to put the book down and catch my breath at Julian's funeral. I feel like I walked the streets of Norwich with Julian herself.

I am so grateful to have read this book and highly recommend it to others.

[A.J. Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. If only we had more biographical information of Julian Norwich! Amy Frykholm is a master at "using a little to make a lot." Just by using Julian's writings and a few obscure references to her life, Frykholm composes a wonderful view into the life of what some have called the first English mystic. Though I longed to know more about the life of Julian, I was grateful for heavily researched detail that Frykholm produces. Though the content of Julian's life can be shocking and uncomfortable (especially for Protestants). I still believe the power of a Cenobites life is unparalleled in the influence of overwhelming devotion to God.

[Katherine Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Frykholm has done a reimagining of the 14th century mystic Julian of Norwich and turned it into a biography of sorts. The result is a well researched and entertaining story of the life of this fascinating woman. While I don't agree with all of the choices she made in her interpretation of the mystic's earthly life, she's done a great job of fitting the revelations to the story. The end of the book is particularly moving and strong and the footnotes give more food for thought and opportunities for more exploration.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is a well-researched, insightful look into the life of the medieval mystic and author. While little biographical information exists, the writer researched the region, era, and extensive source materials and other biographies to produce this insightful life story. While Julian's life may have been simple, her life dedicated to contemplative practices is inspiring. It was a great Holy Week read.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is well written and the author has a good knowledge of the history of the time, which is useful except it's not what I want. Much of the book is the author's conjecture based on history and what little is known about Julian of Norwich's life. I would have preferred more focus on Julian's actual words and a deep dive into her spirituality.

Good for others, just not for me.

[Heather Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A well-written imagination of the life of a woman shrouded in time. If you are interested in Julian of Norwich, this is a wonderful book to read. I also learned a great deal about being a woman in that time, you can tell the author did a lot of research into daily life in the medieval period.

[Megan Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, but 'biography' might be too loosely used. This is a great set of musings on what Julian of Norwich's life may have looked like, and an excellent introduction to her spiritual/mystical work, but it's by no means a true biography. I don't think this makes it a bad book, but do remember that it's not trying to make an absolute historical argument.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All shall be well, all shall be well and all manner of things will be well"

Julian was a 14th century English mystic living in Norwich. She is one of the first women to have her writing recorded (!!) While also serving as counsel and comfort to the parish she served. Jesus revealed to her a knowledge that God is in us and we are in Him. God never started loving us because He ALWAYS loved us!

[Anij Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like Julian of Norwich's story is one that is for everyone, but especially for aspiring contemplatives.
Reading of her revelations, given to her on what most thought was her death bed, and reading of how Julian revisited them over and over, was gripping.
I read it every small chance I got, and now that I am done, I want to know more.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice book that helped me create a mental picture of what the world was like in Julian’s time. But since so little biographical information is actually known about her, it is more a work of very well-researched historical fiction.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so interesting. I have an interest in Julian and anchorites, too.

[Debra Waites · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book as a gift from a Benedictine monastic and thoroughly enjoyed it. Others have written good reviews here that I wholly agree with.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in an interesting way, but not really a biography. Too much license is taken.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book prepared me for the pandemic and my father’s death. Really beautifully written and empathetic.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and researched. As Julian wanted to tell her equals about Christ, this author presents this story in a similar fashion.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book I read about Julian, this one focuses on her spiritual experiences and writings.

[Marshall Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched book on a lesser known mysticc of the 14th century.

[Susan Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not what I was expecting. I thought I would learn much more of her story. A very basic account.