Margery Kempe's Dissenting Fictions

Justin Hall presents Margery Kempe's Dissenting Fictions, Volume 1, a scholarly historical study examining the complexities of one of the Middle Ages' most significant prose writers. This academic work explores how Kempe utilized the conventions of sacred biography and devotional prose to scrutinize fifteenth-century English society. By navigating the boundaries of gender and genre, Kempe constructed a text that challenged the social and ecclesiastical institutions of her era. This volume situates her within the context of religious dissenters and mysticism, offering a profound look at her role as a controlling author.

The analysis focuses on Kempe's manipulation of authorship tropes and her use of gendered language to explore spiritual authority. This book of history and criticism addresses contemporary issues such as vernacular translation, nationalism, and the influence of Lollardy. As a study of Christian literature and women and literature, it redefines Kempe not as a hysteric, but as a sophisticated writer who reshaped traditional materials to navigate a patriarchal society.