Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age

Anglican Theological Review, Winter 2004 by Feyerherm, Elise A

Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age. By Fiona Maddocks. Now York: Doubleday, 2001. xviii 332 pp. $22.95 (cloth); $12.95 (paper).

With all the recent additions to literature on Hildegard, it might be difficult to justify yet another general treatment of Hildegards life and work. But Fiona Maddocks has produced a well-researched, comprehensive, and readable summary of Hildegard s contributions; her book is worth additig to the libraries of educators, academic collections, and lay explorers of this medieval visionary's work.

Maddocks is not technically a Hildegard scholar; rather her background is in music and the media, as a music critic and magazine editor. But this more general background serves her well in her stated intent, which is "to steer a route between the extremes of fashionable enthusiasms and scholarly minutiae" (p. x). Though not "scholarly," Maddocks makes careful, informed use of the best scholarship available; she draws on the latest assessments of textual issues in Hildegard research and makes them accessible to a wider public audience. Appendix 1 provides an annotated list of Hildegards works-visionary, musical, and scientific-along with relevant information about extant inanuscripts and their transmission (or disappearance, as the case may be). Although lay readers may not strictly need to know these things, it is important that this information be included in so-called "popular" works; if readers other than scholars know and care about questions of historical criticism, so much the better.

The book begins with some brief comments on biographical sources, people, and places, a basic chronology of Hildegards life, and simple maps. These initial summaries are extremely helpful, not only for the novice but for those of us who are returning to Hildegard studies after a time away. After a short prologue, Maddocks then traces Hildegards story chronologically-her birth, childhood and cloister, entrance into Disibodenberg, the move to Rupertsberg, combative relationships with those in authority, later life and travels, and death. About halfway through, Maddocks steps back to assess Hildegards life topically rather than chronologically, dealing with Hildegards lifelong work as a correspondent, healer, writer on science and human sexuality, and musician. These chapters flesh out the portrait of the mature Hildegard and allow Maddocks to treat Hildegards writings more directly. Those who have up until now been intimidated by Hildegard will find these chapters a useful guide for approaching her visionary, liturgical, and medical writing.

Maddocks's writing is engaging and even lyrical at times; she is worth reading if only for delightful phrases like "the primping prelates of Mainz" (p. 74). From time to time Maddocks offers a more personal assessment of the situation, as when she evaluates current debates about the authenticity of Hildegards actual authorship of the songs which bear her name. But Maddocks always lets the reader know when she is venturing an opinion, and is clear and open about the necessary distinction between historical evidence and conjecture.

In answer to Maddockss own question of why read another book about Hildegard of Bingen, I would answer that Hildegard is a complex and profound enough woman to admit of any number of different approaches to her life. Maddocks presents a portrait which is sympathetic yet realistic, complex yet coherent.

ELISE A. FEYERHERM

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois