The Book of Margery Kempe, A Modern Version

The life of a 15th century laywoman, widely considered to be the first autobiography written in the English language

Author

Margery Kempe, edited by W Butler-Bowdon, introduction by W R Chambers

Publisher

Jonathan Cape, London, 1940

The Book of Margery Kempe, A Modern Version

Printing Details

Reprint (First thus; first printing in Cape's Life and Letters Series). Hardback in dustwrapper. 20.5 × 14cm, xiii + 385pp

Widely considered to be the first autobiography written in the English language, this book details the extraordinary spiritual and daily life of Margery Kempe, a middle-class, married laywoman from Bishop's Lynn (now King's Lynn, Norfolk) who experienced vivid mystical visions, undertook gruelling pilgrimages, and constantly clashed with the religious and social authorities of 15th-century England.

Condition

The book is in good plus condition. There is some fading to the green cloth binding at the head of the spine, some light spotted foxing to the prelims and a previous owner's inscription. The dustwrapper is worn to the spine ends corners, has been neatly price-clipped but is now within a protective sleeve.

A note for our US buyers

As of July 2026, books remain duty-free. The price of the book incurs no extra US import fees.