My evangelical upbringing taught me stories of Biblical saints and modern missionaries but avoided the Catholic saints. When I discovered Julian of Norwich, I immediately wanted to learn more about Julian and her Revelations of Divine Love. An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf proved to be an excellent introduction that examined Julian’s life, culture, spiritual experiences, and written texts.

I devoured Part One of An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich. This section contained plenty of research, including citations, and carried my interest without seeming overloaded. However, Part Two holds the shining star of the book: Chapter 6 - A Guided Tour of Julian’s Revelations. Here, I found myself captivated by Julian’s experiences, but reading slowly as her intense visions and deep explanations called for careful consideration. Most (but not all) of Julian’s conclusions fit within the Protestant belief system, and God’s immense love for his children threads through each vision. Although the author’s explication of the Revelations of Divine Love filled most of the chapter, Rolf frequently used quotes from Julian’s texts which included some of Julian’s Middle English spelling.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf and I hope to soon read this author’s translation of Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love. I learned much from this book: Julian’s biography, historical details, and spiritual insights. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )