Veronica Mary Rolf

The Explorer’s Guide, as its title promises, is a guide that surveys Julian, her world, “the historical and theological context” of her text, and gives “a guided tour of Julian’s Revelations.” Two final sections, “Digging Deeper into Julian’s Themes” and “A Retreat with Julian’s Revelations,” serve as both a brief scholarly probing and an invitation to the reader’s own exploration.

Rolf focuses on what is relevant for deeper understanding of the text, sidestepping needless speculation, and employing short sections to explore questions, history, vocabulary, context, and themes. There is a quantity of quality scholarship and reflection packed into less than 250 pages (without the print getting too small). Brisk without being superficial, able to be both precise and penetrating, The Explorer’s Guide strikes a good balance between heavier, scholarly books on Julian and popular anthologies. The reader can return to Julian’s own text without misconceptions, and with deeper appreciation and attention.

paperback pp240

Introductions

An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich

In Search of Julian of Norwich New Edition

Introducing Julian

Julian of Norwich: A Very Brief History

Love is His Meaning: The Impact of Julian of Norwich

Why Julian Now?