Ancrene Wisse/Guide for Anchoresses

This new annotated translation of the Ancrene Wisse, the early thirteenth-century guide for female recluses, presents a key document for the development of medieval spirituality and one of the major works of early Middle English prose. Reflecting the “democratization” of religious experience, one of the outcomes of the Medieval Reformation, the Ancrene Wisse drew on new kinds of pastoral literature designed to appeal to a more general audience, while its insight, wit, and charm made it a perennial devotional favorite throughout the Middle Ages. This is the first translation based on the full manuscript evidence, and it also offers an accessible and up-to-date introduction for both scholars and students.