A medieval English mystic created the first autobiography in the English language, dictating her story despite lacking writing skills. Margery Kempe survived severe postpartum depression, ran failed businesses, made pilgrimages to Jerusalem, and was repeatedly arrested on heresy charges. Her loud religious manifestations sparked controversy, while her visions were confirmed by the famous mystic Julian of Norwich.
Background and mental breakdown
The daughter of John Brunham, five-time mayor of Bishop’s Lynn, was born in 1373. Her father also sat in Parliament, testifying to the family’s high position. At age twenty, she married John Kempe, connected with local administration and trade.
The first pregnancy ended in a serious mental crisis lasting over half a year. She experienced hallucinations of demonic voices urging her to suicide and bit her own hand so hard that scars remained for life. In today’s categories, we would recognize this as severe postpartum depression with psychosis.
At least fourteen children were born from the marriage, which additionally burdened her physical and mental health. After emerging from the crisis, she tried to regain stability and social position through business activity. Awareness of status and social position remained extremely important to her throughout life.
Failed business ventures
Seeking to match her family of origin’s wealth, she established a brewery run jointly with her husband. The enterprise ended in failure and loss of invested funds. She then opened a horse mill for grinding grain, which also failed to bring expected profits.
People around her began to deceive her, deepening the mill’s financial problems. Loss of the millstone, an expensive piece of equipment, was particularly painful. In her autobiography, she admitted to great envy toward neighbors, showing her frustration with unrealized ambitions.
Meeting the mayor of Leicester in 1416, she emphasized her descent from a respected family. Business failures prompted her to abandon material pursuits and turn toward spiritual life. In 1413, she agreed with her husband to live in celibacy, which was unusual in a marriage with children.
Mystical visions and public reactions
She began experiencing intense visions of conversations with Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and saints, and participation in crucifixion scenes. Mystical experiences triggered violent physical reactions in her – loud wailing, sobbing, and body trembling. These public manifestations sparked extreme reactions in communities she visited.
Some interpreted her behavior as madness or an attempt to draw attention to herself. Others saw authentic manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s action. Regular crying during services irritated worshippers and clergy, who often tried to remove her from churches.
Pilgrimages and heresy charges
After her father’s death in 1413, she embarked on a long journey through Venice to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Nile. Four years later, she made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, visiting the shrine at Hailes Abbey on the return route. During travels, she was repeatedly detained on charges of Lollardy and heresy.
In Leicester, she spent three weeks in prison after being accused of preaching heretical views. Her independence, loud manifestations of faith, and traveling without her husband aroused suspicions from church authorities. In 1433, together with her daughter-in-law, she traveled to Prussia, where she visited the relic of the Holy Blood in Wilsnack and Aachen.
Recording autobiography with scribes’ help
Seeking confirmation of her visions’ authenticity, she visited Julian of Norwich, a famous mystic and anchoress. Julian advised her to test whether experiences bring glory to God and benefit to other Christians. This spiritual support strengthened her conviction in the visions’ truthfulness.
In the 1430s, she decided to dictate her story despite inability to read and write. The first scribe died before completing the work, so the text was finished by priest Robert Springolde from Norwich. He worked on the record in 1436-1438, creating the first autobiography in the English language.
Family losses and final years
In 1431, she lost her husband and one of her sons, which plunged her into deep mourning. Despite difficulties, she continued participation in religious and social life of King’s Lynn. In 1438, at age sixty-five, she was admitted to the Trinity Guild.
That same year, recording of her Book was completed, which remained unknown for centuries. The last certain mentions of her life come from documents from 1438. The date and circumstances of death remain unknown, as does the burial place.