The female mystic known as Julian of Norwich was born in about 1343, so would have lived through the Black Death, the Peasants’ Revolt, the Wycliffite movement and the Lancastrian usurpation. Norwich, close to the coast in East Anglia, was one of the largest and most prosperous English cities; it had close trading and cultural ties with Northern Europe, where individualized and passionate forms of religion had developed, especially among women. We do not know if Julian was born in Norwich, or who her parents were, though she probably came from a prosperous family. She can be placed in Norwich from 1394 when a will refers to her as “Julian anchorite”. Even her name is unknown; “Julian” is taken from Saint Julian’s church, where she lived as an anchoress, a woman who had entered…
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Citation: Spearing, Elizabeth. "Julian of Norwich". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 December 2000 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5187, accessed 21 November 2024.]
