For Thy Great Pain, Have Mercy on My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenzie

A Review by Cynthia Rogerson

For Thy Great Pain, Have Mercy on My Little Pain
Victoria MacKenzie
Bloomsbury (2023) £14.99

Some books demand an immediate and simple response, so here it is: Reading it gave me great pleasure.

Two 14th century English women take turns confiding the truths of their lives. These truths are primarily spiritual, for they have an unusually close relationship with Jesus. But there is also a fair spattering of ordinary domestic and community reportage. They make some references to the Black Death and current political tyrannies, but mainly they focus on Jesus knocking on their door (so to speak) and how this changes their lives.

Julian of Norwich becomes an anchoress at St Julian’s church in Norwich. She voluntarily agrees to be bricked into a small cell attached to the church for the rest of her life in order to contemplate God without distractions. She has a small window through which to view the world, and from which to dispense advice to anyone who asks. Mostly she looks out her window, prays, and writes with honesty and intelligence about her experiences.

The other narrator is Margery Kempe. Less cerebral, more corporeal. A mother of at least 14 children, a good humoured wife, and a woman who sometimes fancies other men (including a very handsome Jesus). She’s heard of Julian and admires her - but is not tempted to isolate herself likewise. She loves the world too much, and tells her diary every little thing.

Both women have religious visions, called shewings. Talking about these get them into all sorts of trouble because personal unscheduled visits from Jesus are not within the church’s control. They’re occasionally accused of heresy and generally considered a bit wacky.The visions are sometimes overwhelming, but more often inspiring and consoling. Hallucinatory or genuine - does it matter? Margery’s journal, titled The Book of Margery Kempe, is considered the oldest English language diary. Julian’s manuscript The Revelations of Divine Love is considered the earliest surviving work by a woman. Both of their writings were lost to obscurity until relatively recently, and – astoundingly – found appreciative readers in the 21st century, over six hundred years later. How many writers can say that?

It’s fictional biography at its best. A literary gem about women and religion that will appeal to non-religious readers as well as those with faith. It’s short, only 150 pages, but take your time and savour each page. An extraordinary first book by an extraordinary writer.