Katherine Group
The so-called Katherine Group is a group of five 13th century Middle English texts composed by an anonymous author of the English West Midlands. The texts are all addressed to anchoresses (religious recluses) and praise the virtue of virginity.
- the sermon Hali Meiðhad ("holy maidenhood"), directed at anchoresses or recluses, praising the virtues of virginity over worldly marriage. It was written in ca. 1182–1198 in the West Midlands of England.
- the allegory Sawles Warde ("refuge of the souls")
- Seinte Juliene, life of Juliana of Nicomedia
- Seinte Margarete, life of Margaret of Antioch
- Seinte Katherine, life of Catherine of Alexandria.
All five texts are preserved in the manuscript Bodley 34. All except Hali Meiðhad also in Royal 17 A XXVII. Additionally, Cotton Titus D XVIII has Sawles Warde, Seinte Katherine and Hali Meiðhad
J. R. R. Tolkien repeatedly published on the Katherine Group, in Holy Maidenhood (1923), Some Contributions to Middle-English Lexicography and The Devil's Coach-Horses (1925), Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad (1929) and "Iþþlen" in Sawles Warde (1947).
Editions
Hali Meiðhad
- Early English Text Society (1922)
- A. F. Colborn (1940)
- Bella Millett (1972), ISBN 978-0-19-722286-7
Literature
- Fletcher, A. J. (1993) "Black, white and grey in Hali Meidhad and Ancrene Wisse: evidence for dating from mention of religious orders' habits", in: Medium Aevum (1993)
- Millett, Bella (1996) Ancrene Wisse, the Katherine Group, and the Wooing Group ISBN 0-85991-429-1
- Millett, Bella & Wogan-Browne, J. (1990) Medieval English Prose for Women: selections from the Katherine Group and Ancrene Wisse. Oxford: Clarendon Press ISBN 978-0-19-811205-1
- Tolkien, J. R. R. Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad
- Tolkien, J. R. R. The Devil's Coach Horses
See also
External links
- Katherine Group (upenn.edu)