The Vernacular Spirit: Essays on Medieval Religious Literature

The late-medieval movement into “vernacular theology,” as it has come to be called, inspired many forms of literary expression in all the languages of Europe. Juxtaposing a rich variety of texts, the contributors to this volume consider hagiography, translations of and commentaries on scripture, accounts of visionary experiences, and devotional literature. Their essays illuminate encounters with the divine mediated through language, bringing into play a diversity of national cultures and disciplinary points of view. They also engage vital social and political issues connected with religious experience, including challenges to authority, reinterpretations of texts, and renegotiations of gender roles.