Sabina Flanagan

Whether you believe Hildegard was a prophetess, diviner or simply a nun suffering from an unexplained illness, the moment she dictated her visions and pen was put to paper, the Christian world has never stopped analyzing them.

"Hildegard of Bingen" by Flanagan is, disappointingly, not a biography. Yes, Flanagan gives "an account of what she wrote" - albeit not in chronological order - but fails in explaining "how Hildegard did it." Flanagan does not explore Benedictine monasticism, show more Hildegard's eagerness to educate and tour, her pride, the community of women she was raised by, or her dear friendships and personal losses. Anything regarding her flawed humanity is only briefly mentioned or neglected. I also noticed factual errors: "...an emergency confession or baptism can be performed by laymen or lay women." This was only allowed two centuries later, during the Black Death, and then was rescinded by the papacy. It's a solid literary study of Hildegard's works, but not a "visionary life."

Hildegard was unique, and ahead of her time, and I can respect her curiosity. Psychology teaches us that the brain can insert memories due to outside influence or trauma. A reclusive, elitist, Christian context is all she knew, and one cannot blame her for forcing these elaborate visions to fit this mold. Writing was probably therapeutic, and she was aware that privilege allowed her to ask questions and pursue a life beyond patriarchal expectations. Hildegard, regardless of religious beliefs, is a fascinating person! show less