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A Vision of Light (1989)

by Judith Merkle Riley

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Margaret of Ashbury Trilogy (book 1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
6882433,004 (3.99)1 / 18
The bestselling novel that introduces Margaret of Ashbury and launches a trilogy featuring this irrepressible woman Margaret of Ashbury wants to write her life story. However, like most women in fourteenth-century England, she is illiterate. Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret's scribe, and only the threat of starvation persuades Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar with a mysterious past, to take on the task. As she narrates her life, we discover a woman of startling resourcefulness. Married off at the age of fourteen to a merchant reputed to be the Devil himself, Margaret was left for dead during the Black Plague. Incredibly, she survived, was apprenticed to an herbalist, and became a midwife. But most astonishing of all, Margaret has experienced a Mystic Union--a Vision of Light that endows her with the miraculous gift of healing. Because of this ability, Margaret has become suddenly different--to her tradition-bound parents, to the bishop's court that tries her for heresy, and ultimately to the man who falls in love with her. "From the Trade Paperback edition."… (more)
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» See also 18 mentions

English (22)  Spanish (1)  German (1)  All languages (24)
Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
There are lots of tropes I truly hate in this book: rape, abuse, death of a child, incest, death of a spouse, men with too much power hurting women and children and lots more - and still, I love this book. Margaret is such a beautiful person, I fell in love with her. Five stars. ( )
  Donderowicz | Mar 12, 2024 |
9788408040712
  archivomorero | Jun 27, 2022 |
I loved those books as a teenager back in the days, and when I had a look at my library of what to read next, I saw my overly "zerlesende" (aka, I read them so much that they are falling apart) editions of the Margaret of Ashbury novels. Instead of bothering with the German translations, I took the opportunity and got the English ebooks and it was not a disappointment.
Yes, Ms Merkle Riley was a bit lenient with historical facts, I already knew as a teenager of thirteen that witches weren't burnt in the medieval times and other little things which were added because it fitted the narration better.
But honestly, I still love the story, it is such a nice feel good book, that didn't loose any of its charm in the nearly thirty years since I read it first. The story itself might not be something extraordinary special but the wit and humor make it a fine read. ( )
  Black-Lilly | Jul 5, 2021 |
More of a 3.5 really. Earlier on, I thought it was going to be way too long, but then I really got into it. The tale was entertaining. ( )
  MaureenCean | Feb 2, 2016 |
I liked this book for the historical background -- London, 1350's. Margaret is a somewhat unusual heroine...there were times when I was cheering her on, & times when I wanted to tell her to stand up for what she believed (instead of taking physical, mental & emotional abuse from the men around her) but probably that was a fairly historically accurate picture of the plight of women in the middle ages.... ( )
  mfdavis | May 20, 2015 |
Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Judith Merkle Rileyprimary authorall editionscalculated
Asendorf, DorotheeÜbersetzersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Duffy, LauraCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fortescue-Brickdale, EleanorCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lundborg, GunillaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Ullstein (25103)
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In the year of Our Lord 1355, three days after the Feast of the Epiphany, God put in my mind that I must write a book. (prologue)
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The bestselling novel that introduces Margaret of Ashbury and launches a trilogy featuring this irrepressible woman Margaret of Ashbury wants to write her life story. However, like most women in fourteenth-century England, she is illiterate. Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret's scribe, and only the threat of starvation persuades Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar with a mysterious past, to take on the task. As she narrates her life, we discover a woman of startling resourcefulness. Married off at the age of fourteen to a merchant reputed to be the Devil himself, Margaret was left for dead during the Black Plague. Incredibly, she survived, was apprenticed to an herbalist, and became a midwife. But most astonishing of all, Margaret has experienced a Mystic Union--a Vision of Light that endows her with the miraculous gift of healing. Because of this ability, Margaret has become suddenly different--to her tradition-bound parents, to the bishop's court that tries her for heresy, and ultimately to the man who falls in love with her. "From the Trade Paperback edition."

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The bestselling novel that introduces Margaret of Ashbury and launches a trilogy featuring this irrepressible woman

Margaret of Ashbury wants to write her life story. However, like most women in fourteenth-century England, she is illiterate. Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret's scribe, and only the threat of starvation persuades Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar with a mysterious past, to take on the task. As she narrates her life, we discover a woman of startling resourcefulness. Married off at the age of fourteen to a merchant reputed to be the Devil himself, Margaret was left for dead during the Black Plague. Incredibly, she survived, was apprenticed to an herbalist, and became a midwife. But most astonishing of all, Margaret has experienced a Mystic Union—a Vision of Light that endows her with the miraculous gift of healing. Because of this ability, Margaret has become suddenly different—to her tradition-bound parents, to the bishop's court that tries her for heresy, and ultimately to the man who falls in love with her.
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