Christina the Astonishing (Paperback)
Language: English
Published by Two Rivers Press, Reading, 2022
- Softcover
- New

Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.Grand Eagle Retail
AbeBooks seller since October 12, 2005
Condition: New
£ 15.21
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Paperback. Saint Christina the Astonishing was born into a poor Belgian family in 1150. She died aged 22 but at her requiem she rose from her coffin and flew away like a bird, wanting to escape the smell of sinful humanity. This was the first of many mad, disobedient exploits in her long and remarkable life. Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders retell through their own poems as well as brief extracts from medieval religious writers Christinas story as a womans search for selfhood. The book includes artworks from Peter Hay, which he created for the original edition in direct response to the poetry. First published in 1998 and long out of print, this new edition makes Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders sensual and exhilarating poetic collaboration available once more. A Two Rivers Press illustrated classic.Ascetic and excessive, exasperating, sometimes absurd, the life of the little-known St Christina provokes fantasies and questions. Was she a wonder worker? Or an anorexic, fuelled by hatred of the flesh? Or a powerful woman whose legendary flights set her free from her time and her place? Rather than offering pieties or diagnoses, Lesley Saunders and Jane Draycott, invite us to a feast of soul food. Their two distinctive voices meet the voices of the Middle Ages in an extraordinary blend of the sacred and the profane, the rapt and the irreverent, playful, sensual and deeply felt. Philip Gross Poetry as exciting as this is rare: fusing an earthy sensuality with the spiritual, it lets us hear Christinas voice ringing clearly from the rafters. Robyn Bolam Christina the Astonishing is strange, wild, exhilarating: as in a piece of medieval polyphony, the authors mingle their voices, making connections between history and fantasy, between inner life and outer witness. I was intrigued, entertained, and yes astonished. Marina Warner A new edition and reissue of Christina the Astonishing, a sensual and exhilarating poetic collaboration between Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders, retelling - through their own poems as well as brief extracts from medieval religious writers Christina's story as a womans search for selfhood. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…
Seller Inventory # 9781915048004
- Title
- Christina the Astonishing (Paperback)
- Author
- Jane Draycott
- Publisher
- Two Rivers Press, Reading
- Publication year
- 2022
- Condition
- new
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1915048001
- ISBN 13
- 9781915048004
- Illustrator
- Hay, Peter
- Edition
- 2nd Edition
Saint Christina the Astonishing was born into a poor Belgian family in 1150. She ‘died’ aged 22 but at her requiem she rose from her coffin and flew away like a bird, wanting to escape the smell of sinful humanity.
This was the first of many mad, disobedient exploits in her long and remarkable life. Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders retell – through their own poems as well as brief extracts from medieval religious writers – Christina’s story as a woman’s search for selfhood. The book includes artworks from Peter Hay, which he created for the original edition in direct response to the poetry.
First published in 1998 and long out of print, this new edition makes Jane Draycott and Lesley Saunders’ sensual and exhilarating poetic collaboration available once more.
A Two Rivers Press illustrated classic.
‘Ascetic and excessive, exasperating, sometimes absurd, the life of the little-known St Christina provokes fantasies and questions. Was she a wonder worker? Or an anorexic, fuelled by hatred of the flesh? Or a powerful woman whose legendary flights set her free from her time and her place? Rather than offering pieties or diagnoses, Lesley Saunders and Jane Draycott, invite us to a feast of soul food. Their two distinctive voices meet the voices of the Middle Ages in an extraordinary blend of the sacred and the profane, the rapt and the irreverent, playful, sensual and deeply felt.’ – Philip Gross
‘Poetry as exciting as this is rare: fusing an earthy sensuality with the spiritual, it lets us hear Christina’s voice ringing clearly from the rafters.’ – Robyn Bolam
‘Christina the Astonishing is strange, wild, exhilarating: as in a piece of medieval polyphony, the authors mingle their voices, making connections between history and fantasy, between inner life and outer witness. I was intrigued, entertained, and – yes – astonished.’ – Marina Warner
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Lesley Saunders is the author of several poetry collections, most recently 'This Thing of Blood & Love' (Two Rivers Press 2022) and, with artist Rebecca Swainston, 'Days of Wonder' (Hippocrates Press 2021), a document of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her English translations – including the poem that won the 2016 Stephen Spender award – of renowned Portuguese poet Maria Teresa Horta were published as 'Point of Honour' (Two Rivers Press 2019). Lesley works on collaborative projects with visual artists, sculptors, musicians, photographers and dancers as well as other poets. Otherwise, she is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education, London, and an honorary research fellow at Oxford University Department of Education.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Grand Eagle Retail
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