This novel is packed with information about religious practices and the political intrigues of 12th century Europe . . . yet the plot moves along at a sprightly pace. The author emphasizes a young woman’s determination to use her intelligence and talent while negotiating already-outmoded medical and religious practices. - Paula Butterfield, author of La... Continue Reading →
“The Greenest Branch,” part I of the Hildegard of Bingen duology, is finally out!
In The Greenest Branch the medieval era comes vividly to life in all its romanticism and splendor, but the societal strictures that prevent women from being able to access education and live independent lives are also on display. The year is 1115, and Germany is torn apart by a conflict between the Emperor and the... Continue Reading →
Chapter 1 – Bermersheim, Rhineland, September 1115
The night I learned that I would be leaving my family home, the sounds of talk and laughter took a long time to die down. Finally, a growing chorus of snores from the hall told me that the guests from Sponheim were asleep. But there was a murmur of voices close by, and a faint... Continue Reading →
Hildegard of Bingen – biographical information
Hildegard of Bingen was born at the turn of the 12th century in Bermesheim, today’s Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Enclosed in a monastery as a child, she went on to become a physician, writer, and composer of music, including one of the first musical plays titled Ordo virtutum. In addition to her theological and medical writings, Hildegard... Continue Reading →
P.K. Adams 