Illuminations  -  Mary Sharratt
                             
                           Historical Fiction

This book is based on the life of Hildegard von , a woman from the 1100's.  At the young age of 8, her mother 'gave' Hildegard to the church to become a companion to a 'holy' (or maybe just plain mad) women.  They were both walled up inside of a 2 cell prison.

Hildegard was called an anchorite and stayed within the confines of this cell for 30 years when she was able to ' escape' when the holy woman died.

Because Hildegard has 'visions', she is considered a visionary and a 'sinful daughter of Eve' and accused of heresy.

It was an interesting but difficult time in women's history. As usual, Mary Sharratt writes an interesting and insightful book about women's history.