"Written with profound insight, spiritual and psychological, and a rare sensitivity to the everyday world of the fourteenth century, I, Julian is a brilliantly illuminating companion to one of the greatest works of spiritual writing in English." (Rowan Williams, Magdalene College, Cambridge University)

"It is a beautiful, intensly moving achievement which not only excites literary admiration, it renews the reader's faith that "all shall be well." (A. N. Wilson)

"A life and time so convincingly summoned that it is harsd to believe that is a work of fiction, proof that th eimagaination can be just as true as the truth." Francis Stonor Saunders

After the death of her father in the first great pestilience, Julian finds herself wanting to retreat from everyday life. Her mother lives alone in a small cottage but Julian is expected to marry and does so. Her husband is kind and Julian becomes a mother but both are taken from her by the next wave of pestilence. Despite having an offer of marriage Julian wishes to live a contemplative life but a serious illness leads to powerful visions and Julian realises she wants to dedicate herself to God. When an opportunity to become an anchoress presents itself, Julian chooses to this and lives for many years, accompanied only by a servant. Despite opposition from the heretic-seeking Church, Julian commits her visions to parchment.
I have long been fascinated by the tale of Julian of Norwich, a late 14th century anchoress bricked up in a Church with her only contact through a window on the world. In this book Gilbert has turned scant facts into a wonderful fictional autobiography. The writings of attributed to Julian are beautiful and Gilbert's prose does them justice. This is great book. ( )