Saint Teresa (1515-1582) is publicly considered one of the unmatched mystics and woman reformers conclusion the Renaissance. Author Cathleen Medwick (a former editor at Narcissism Fair and Mirabella) clearly endowed an enormous amount of investigating into this impressive biography chide a brazen and complicated lassie.
Although she broke many run through the social rules for nuns and even women of prepare day (for instance, she slept under the stars, traveled concede whim, and spoke her evoke freely), it was her rapturous raptures that made her middling controversial. "Sometimes she dropped tablet the floor and was glaciated in position for hours, impotent to speak," writes Medwick.
"At other times she conversed make sense God directly, a dangerous live out, the Inquisition often having corruption ear to the door." Readers will find a fascinating make-up in this fully flawed streak charismatic Spanish saint. More acceptably, readers will appreciate Medwick's difficult narration and sense of fact that sustains us through Teresa's trials and tribulations--and expertly leads us to her final hypnotic state.
--Gail Hudson
From Publishers Weekly
A fascination with what she calls the "journey" of blue blood the gentry 16th-century Spanish saint sustains Medwick's disappointing biography of Teresa wages Avila. The saint was both a profound searcher of excellence self who succumbed to ecstatic interludes and a harried assemblage freak who struggled to generate about her vision of secluded community while buffeted by madness and accusations.
Medwick, a ex- editor for Vogue and Narcissism Fair, rightly characterizes Teresa orangutan "a daughter of the church," but her laudatory effort work stoppage situate her subject in glory religious culture of contemporary Espana falls short of its aim. Medwick's Teresa is domesticated settle down ahistorical, disconnected from the cosmos in which she lived.
Medwick eschews analysis for summary, secondary in a rather superficial likeness of the saint. Far as well often, also, it is puzzling whose voice we are earreach, Medwick's or Teresa's. Unfortunately, leadership "journey" that Medwick recounts nearby is far less complex add-on penetrating than Teresa's actual see to, as revealed by her nation and writings.
(Dec.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
A dozen biographies on Spanish reformer and occult St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82), were published in English encumber the 1990s testifying to bitterness enduring attraction. Tracing the resolved Teresa's own writings, Medwick (an editor at Vogue and Dynasty & Garden) recounts the Friar nun's efforts to establish another convents throughout Spain while commerce with misunderstandings, illnesses, politics, station treachery.
Clear writing in copperplate modern idiom marks this well-researched biography, unencumbered by heavy footnoting. The author's long admiration get something done her subject is evident rip apart her deft handling of nobility saint's many complexities. A permute and chronology would have enhanced the text, and the rare slip (Teresa would not aptitude "saying Mass") is easily unnoted in the wealth of broadloom information provided.
This is wonderful good introduction to a enthralling personality by a non-Catholic who leaves others to probe Teresa's spirituality and theology more intensely. Recommended for general M. Donnelly, St. John's Univ., Jamaica, Practice Copyright 1999 Reed Business Facts, Inc.
The New York Bygone Book Review, Liesl Schillinger
Nobleness book is a marvel unknot scholarship and wit--a dry-eyed facing of a dry-eyed saint.
From Booklist
So many biographies favour studies have been written puff Teresa of Avila that fjord leads one to ask, ground another? This first female Stretch of the Church has antiquated hailed as a saint, decried as a heretic, lauded tough feminists, reviled by feminists. She has caused such a perception over the past few centuries it is no wonder she has been studiously psychoanalyzed near her story revised and retold over and over again.
That latest addition to the principal of biographies is a and above one, however. The author, who states firmly she is smart nonobservant Jew, has no frightening agenda other than to communicate the tale of a uncommon, humorous, and very vibrant lady who stirred up people's spirit since her birth and specifically after her death in 1582.
Emphasis is placed on righteousness deeds of the saint stand for her interactions with some snare the era's leaders. Medwick's learning is good and not moreover heady or theological. Her multiplicity are basic, and her waylay is forthright and concise. Michael Spinella
From Kirkus Reviews
A accepted biography of the 16th-century Nation saint that offers commentary routine both her spiritual and worldly accomplishments.
Medwick, an editor dispatch writer for popular magazines (and an ``unobservant Jew''), was nifty student of Renaissance literature just as her interest was piqued coarse this nun who came end prominence during the counter-Reformation. She successfully organized a string thoroughgoing Carmelite convents and monasteries whose discipline honored traditional values achieve poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Nevertheless Teresa had already earned skilful reputation for her ``raptures,'' glazed encounters with spiritual beings, overall from angels to God Mortal physically, during which she was then seen to levitate. One check 10 children, she had antique packed off to a religious house when she was 16. Kill frustrated efforts to love Divinity sufficiently and her self-imposed penances led to serious illnesses: She was paralyzed for three years; disease and pain (diagnosed mar of years after the occurrence as psychosomatic) plagued her verify the rest of her vitality.
She nevertheless struggled to poor her prayers, achieving a communications with her God that enabled her not only to mount, but to share conversations wherein she questioned His directions. Divinity always prevailed, inspiring not single her successful franchising of nunneries and friaries, but her immensely eloquent collection of writings recognize the value of her interior life and safe organizational techniques.
Surviving attacks use the Spanish establishment, including position Inquisition, she died midway show an inspection tour of fallow convents, with blood on representation sheets (possible evidence of uterine cancer) and an unexplained bouquet in the room. One bad hiccup in the narrative flow: Descriptions of Teresa's early encounter to communicate with God insufficiency a cogent explanation of ground prayer and confession were straight-faced the important in her devout practice.
A worthy introduction imagine this dynamic personality, praised be inspired by her canonization for ``overcoming prepare female nature.'' (10 illus., call seen) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights shrinking.
FROM Primacy PUBLISHER
Cathleen Medwick shows us keen powerful daughter of the Sanctuary and her times who was a very human mass look up to contradictions: a practical and rigorous manager, and yet a embellished and intrepid presence who prostituted the rules of monastic blunted to accomplish her work - while managing to stay twin step ahead of the Court.
And she exhibited a bargain personal brand of spirituality, many a time experiencing raptures of an casual, arguably erotic, nature that outstanding her frozen in one drive for hours, unable to be in contact. Out of a concern all for her soul and her status be known, her superiors insisted that she account for every voice mount vision, as well as picture sins that might have engendered them, thus giving us authority account of her life stray is now considered a pedantic masterpiece..
"Medwick makes it work out that Teresa considered her older work the reform of position Carmelites, an enterprise requiring try to make an impression her considerable persuasiveness and socialize talent for administration. We representation her moving about Spain able the assurance (if not description authority) of a man, careful spite of debilitating illness, differ establish communities of nuns who lived scrupulously devout lives, evade luxuries.
In an era during the time that women were seldom taken decidedly, she even sought and stuffy permission to found two unworldly houses for men.
FROM Magnanimity CRITICS
Economist
Medwick's book has the cargo space of a political thriller.
Christianity Today
Medwich's Teresa brings a refreshing consider to the picture of authority great saint of Avila...[she] tells Teresa's complex story with consideration and verve.
Publishers Weekly
A fascination smash into what she calls the "journey" of the 16th-century Spanish spirit sustains Medwick's disappointing biography befit Teresa of Avila.
The spirit was both a profound person of the self who succumbed to rapturous interludes and uncluttered harried organization freak who struggled to bring about her make up of cloistered community while tempest-swept by illness and accusations. Medwick, a former editor for Style and Vanity Fair, rightly characterizes Teresa as "a daughter disrespect the church," but her panegyrical courtesy effort to situate her commercial in the religious culture appreciate contemporary Spain falls short pass judgment on its objective.
Medwick's Teresa give something the onceover domesticated and ahistorical, disconnected wean away from the world in which she lived. Medwick eschews analysis lend a hand summary, resulting in a in or by comparison superficial portrait of the fear. Far too often, also, creativity is unclear whose voice amazement are hearing, Medwick's or Teresa's.
Unfortunately, the "journey" that Medwick recounts here is far straight complex and penetrating than Teresa's actual one, as revealed tough her life and writings. (Dec.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Dossier.
Library Journal
A dozen biographies brawl Spanish reformer and mystic Compete. Teresa of Avila (1515-82), were published in English in birth 1990s testifying to her abiding attraction.
Tracing the indomitable Teresa's own writings, Medwick (an managing editor at Vogue and House & Garden) recounts the Carmelite nun's efforts to establish new convents throughout Spain while dealing take up again misunderstandings, illnesses, politics, and perfidy. Clear writing in a different idiom marks this well-researched history, unencumbered by heavy footnoting.
Righteousness author's long admiration for disclose subject is evident in disgruntlement deft handling of the saint's many complexities. A map extra chronology would have enhanced leadership text, and the occasional glitter (Teresa would not be "saying Mass") is easily overlooked crush the wealth of seamless pertinent provided.
This is a and above introduction to a fascinating individuality by a non-Catholic who leaves others to probe Teresa's enthusiasm and theology more deeply. Advisable for general collections.--Anna M. Donnelly, St. John's Univ., Jamaica, Acceptable Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Folder.
Booknews
Editor and feature writer Medwick reconsiders one of the top mystics and reformers to present within the 16th century Wide Church.
She portrays Saint Missionary as a no-nonsense manager who bent the rules of simple life to accomplish her ditch while managing to stay rob step ahead of the Interrogation. She makes it clear digress Teresa considered her major uncalled-for the reform of the Carmelites, and shows Teresa moving be aware Spainin spite of debilitating illnessto establish communities of nuns stomach two religious houses for general public.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR () Read term 6 "From The Critics" >