I, Julian: The Fictional Autobiography of Julian of Norwich by Claire Gilbert: A Book Review

I, Julian: The Fictional Autobiography of Julian of Norwich

Author: Claire Gilbert

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 2023

Pages: 280

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: In 1347, the first pestilence rages across the land. The young Julian of Norwich encounters the strangeness of death: first her father, then later her husband and her child. When she falls ill herself, she encounters mystical visions that bring comfort and concern. But in the midst of suspicion and menace, when the Church is actively condemning heretics, Julian is not safe.

I, Julian is the account of a medieval woman who dares to tell her own story.

Battling grief, plague, the church and societal expectations, and compelled by her powerful visions, Julian finds a way to live a life of freedom - as an anchoress, bricked up in a small room on the side of a church. Helped by Thomas, a Benedictine monk from Norwich Cathedral, she writers of what she has seen and offers word of counsel to others. Julian's manuscripts are protected by trusted sisters and are passed from hand to hand, become the first book to be written by a woman in English.

My Review: Julian of Norwich was the first woman to have composed a work written in English. Her most famous work was Revelations of Divine Love. In this novel, it retells Julian’s life beginning with her time before she becomes an anchoress. Through a series of hardships, Julian later decides to live in seclusion apart from the world. Throughout her life, Julian comes to have a strong faith in God.

I have read Revelations of Divine Love, and it is one of my favorite books of all time. It gives the reader a glimpse of medieval thought. I was also spellbound by the author’s love for God. Her work was very personal and profound. Therefore, I was curious to learn about how the author dealt with Julian of Norwich’s story.

In I, Julian it fills many of the gaps in her life. In this book, Julian loses all of those who were close to her. She loses her father, her husband, and child. Yet, Julian finds strength and inner peace when she has a vision of God during her illness. I admired Julian as a character. I love how she found God through all her hardships. Her love of God is what keeps her very strong. Therefore, I loved her resilience and her belief in God. She was a very admirable character.

Overall, this novel is about loss, love, and faith. The message of this book is that God is there for you and comforts you especially through hard times. I found all of the characters to be very developed and well-rounded. I like how the author portrayed medieval England and their troubled times! I did think that the novel moved slowly at times. However, I liked how it was character driven. I, Julian was a very beautiful book about faith! I recommend this for fans of Revelations, Hild, and Feathers & Trumpets!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

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