Short Synopsis
From the author of Daughters of the Witching Hill, a triumphant portrait of a resilient and courageous woman and the life she might have lived.

Full Synopsis
Skillfully interweaving historical fact with psychological insight and vivid imagination, Sharratt's redemptive novel, Illuminations, brings to life one of the most extraordinary women of the Middle Ages: Hildegard von Bingen, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath.

Offered to the Church at the age of eight, Hildegard was entombed in a small room where she was expected to live out her days in silent submission as the handmaiden of a renowned but disturbed young nun, Jutta von Sponheim. Instead, Hildegard rejected Jutta's masochistic piety and found comfort and grace in studying books, growing herbs, and rejoicing in her own secret visions of the divine. When Jutta died some thirty years later, Hildegard broke out of her prison with the heavenly calling to speak and write about her visions and to liberate her sisters and herself from the soul-destroying anchorage. Riveting and utterly unforgettable, Illuminations is a deeply moving portrayal of a woman willing to risk everything for what she believed.

"Seamless shifts in tone along with exhaustive research into the correct pronunciation of obscure German names and places elevate the literary experience as only great audio can." ---AudioFile

"Tavia Gilbert's thoughtful reading captures Hildegard's voice as she ages from eight to over 80. [Illuminations] will appeal largely to listeners who wish to learn more about this newly canonized saint." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"[A] gripping story." ---Publishers Weekly

"Psychological insight, passages of moving spirituality, and abundant historical detail---from straw bedding and hairshirts to turtle soup and wooden dolls---make this a memorable addition to the genre of medieval historical fiction." ---Booklist

"Sharratt's well-timed and well-written portrait, both admiring and humanizing, should please [fans] looking for an accessible way to learn more about the life of this fascinating medieval woman." ---Library Journal

AudioFile Earphones Award Winner

Kirkus Bestseller

Audie Finalist