The Book of Margery Kempe

Margery’s story intends to bring consolation and understanding of Christ to sinners. The book details how Christ brough Margery out of sin, “through the prompting of the Holy Ghost” (3), making her a dedicated believer. She engaged in regular ascetic acts, like fasting, as demonstrations of her devotion and Christ had mercy on her during times of need, like illness. God’s love humbled Margery (“this creature”) so that she invited the contempt of others as a form of suffering because it strengthened her dedication. Regret for her past sinful misdeeds led her to copious weeping as an act of “contrition” (4).

The divine revealed “secret things” (4) to her so that she could foresee events and outcomes. She held regular conversations with God in her mind, causing her to weep and often alienating her contemporaries. She visited many educated clerics and anchorites about her experiences to determine their legitimacy. They told her the words came from God and encouraged her to record her experiences. Margery refused because God told her not to until two decades later “when it pleased our Lord” (5).

An Englishman visiting her home recorded her recollections just before he died. A priest well-acquainted with Margery then took up the cause of transcription because of the first version’s poor quality and illegibility. However, this priest betrayed Margery when he was swayed by vicious rumors about her weeping and therefore delayed writing the book for several years. Eventually, this priest had second thoughts about his betrayal and took up the project again, with Margery’s assistance.

The book is non-linear in style. The recollections appear as Margery remembered events. The chronology became jumbled in her memory since much time had elapsed. This Proem was authored in 1436, after the Preface that follows, to create a more robust narrative.