Hildegard of Bingen was a medieval German nun - a religious leader and poet, visionary and naturalist, a writer of medical treatises and best known as one of the finest composers of her time. Despite a lifetime spent cloistered, Hildegard had rigorous, often controversial views on sex, love and marriage, medicine and music. Her prolific writings and letters provide an insight into her life during the turbulent Middle Ages.
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About the Author
Flona Maddocks was the editor of the award-winning BBC Music Magazine 1992-97 and is currently the chief music reviewer of the Observer.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By bobobob5
Format:Hardcover
There's a lot more to Saint Hildegard than a rack full of New Age CDs, as the author makes very clear! Maddocks, who is a specialist in music, devotes only one of her seventeen chapters to Hildegard's songs, the rest dealing with a potent mix of politics, sex and medicine, to mention but three of the many aspects of her astonishing life. In doing so, the author clearly reveals - though not explicitly - that Hildegard cannot at the present time be 'pinned down' in a biography; her expertise on sexual matters, for example, cannot be easily explained and one is left with the impression that there is much that remains to be discovered about this fascinating woman. I wish the book had been four or five times as long; it would still have been too short, for me at least. I can thoroughly recommend it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By mathiais
Format:Paperback
There has been more books written about Hildegard than any other medieval mover and shaker in the last few years. This book just happens to be the apex of this new found trend, as with a cool head and a sound heart the author has displayed an enormous ability at extracting truth from fiction in this informative account of her life. With splashes of descriptive writing and an elegant historical style the author sketches out the various aspects of her life, from her extraordinary visions to her bumps and bruises from fighting the established church on occasions, from her bending of the rules slightly (in regards to women not preaching) to her bouts of illness, in all this the author is able to keep her skepticism and objectivism to commendable level.
At first when picking up this book I thought (as my opinion had been soured by crusading feminism before) that this might be yet another author looking at Hildegard as a shining beacon of femininity in the twelve century and extort what only can be regarded as propaganda, but I’m glad to report that I was not only wrong but this book has left a lasting impression that will take a long time to forget. Vivid, compelling and constantly witty, I do not recommend you read this book, I demand you read it.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Fiona Maddocks has created a rare and beautiful tome, one that is compelling both on a factual and narrative level. Dealing with a figure who has, in the last few decades, risen sharply into perhaps over-stated prominence from relative obscurity, is no mean feat and Maddocks has cleared her way through the jungle that is 'Bingen-mania' to achieve the seemingly impossible: a clear-stated account of her life and work embedded in the most undeniably gripping tale.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fiona Maddocks is a very accomplished writer and this comes over in her book on Hildegard of Bingen. Superb flow and she gets the information over very effectively. As a biography of Hildegard this book is very successful providing a description of her writings and an insight into her philosophy. The references are very extensive which clearly indicates the author has a command of her subject. My only reservation is the coverage of Hildgard's musical accomplishments. Any reader hoping to gain an insight into Hildegard's music will be disappointed as only one chapter is devoted to this area of her output. This is rather surprising since the author has been a music critic for several publications. Otherwise the book is good choice for a source of information on Hildegard.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
With Hildegard of Bingen being recently Canonisation and being raised to a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI I felt that I needed to fill a niche in my knowledge about her life having read most of her major Works - Scivias, Physica, Liber vita meritorum etc. So, having read the Amazon reviews of Fiona Maddock's book I bought it. I have not regretted it. I have found that this book on Hildegard is an utterly absorbing, compelling and surprisingly easy read and I have to confess that once I started reading it I had to continue right to the end. I fully endorse what the five star reviews say about it. For anyone with an interest in this facinating Saint this book is a must!
By G. Brown
Format:Paperback
The book Hildegard of Bingem arrived very speedily and well packaged, and was as described. I did not think to enquire about the print which is a little on the small side, for me, nevertheless it is quite readable. The service is excellent and I will use Carbon Books again.
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