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For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain

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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenzie, read by Charlie Norfolk and Stephanie Racine.

An astounding debut, both epic and intimate, about grief, trauma, revelation, and the hidden lives of women – by a major new talent

'Miraculously conjured ... Brilliantly done' THE TIMES, Book of the Month
'A beautiful book ... It warmed my heart' MAX PORTER
'Electrifying ... A pocket epic' GUARDIAN
'The best first novel I've read in years ... So full and so vivid; it is amazing' RODDY DOYLE
'A vibrant portrait of female courage' OBSERVER

Winner of the Scottish Book Awards – First Book of the Year
Selected as a book of the year by the Sunday Times, Guardian, Scotsman and Irish Times

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In the year of 1413, two women meet for the first time in the city of Norwich.

Margery has left her fourteen children and husband behind to make her journey. Her visions of Christ – which have long alienated her from her family and neighbours, and incurred her husband’s abuse – have placed her in danger with the men of the Church, who have begun to hound her as a heretic.

Julian, an anchoress, has not left Norwich, nor the cell to which she has been confined, for twenty-­three years. She has told no one of her own visions – and knows that time is running out for her to do so.

The two women have stories to tell one another. Stories about girlhood, motherhood, sickness, loss, doubt and belief; revelations more powerful than the world is ready to hear. Their meeting will change everything.

Sensual, vivid and humane, For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain cracks history open to reveal the lives of two extraordinary women.

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'Magnificent, bold and compelling' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of the Sunday Times-bestselling The Leviathan

'A startling read ... Magic' JO BROWNING WROE, author of the Sunday Times-bestselling A Terrible Kindness

'Intimately observed, lyrically written and meticulously researched. I loved this' KIRSTY LOGAN, author of Things We Say in the Dark©2023 Victoria MacKenzie (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Medieval Women's Fiction Middle Ages Marriage
All stars
Most relevant
Very interesting insight into Medieval women's lives and the position of religion in society, I enjoyed it.

Sincerity

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Brings these two very different women to life and in so doing grounds the theological points it contains in a (imagined) lived reality that rings true today

Enthralling story of two important medieval women

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These two ladies must surely be the two most important Medieval women. Most enlightening, compelling & comforting

Loved it!

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There is not a wasted word in this book, it is beautifully written with lovely touches of humour and images to remember and make you think. The sights and sounds of medieval life are skilfully evoked as clearly as the internal lives of these women and as you read, you can't wait to hear more of their story. Please do not be put off by the religious aspect or medieval setting, this is a book that speaks of women's experiences throughout time.

This is a wonderful book!

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At first I was unsure if this was something I would enjoy. But soon two voices became one. A duet of voice and spirit.
Stunning.
Wonderfully read, engaging throughout, and I more spiritually intelligent as a result. Thank you.

Stunning

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