Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen by Matthew Fox Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
Book Review: Hilderard & Matthew Fox - Visionary & Prophet
Summary: 5 Stars
This book provides the best source for large color reproductions of Hildegard's visionary illuminations. Matthew Fox writes from a lifelong theological experience in and out of the Church; he is reponsible for some of the most beautiful and profound insights into Hildegard's earth-based, Celtic, creation spirituality. His texts incorporate excellent biblical scholarship, a knowledge of world religions, remarkable feminism for a male writer, and a multi-faceted and comprehensive approach, combining images and quotations from Hildegard's, art, music, writing, and scientific studies. Highly recommended.Book Review: A 0-star review would be more appropriate.
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is not worth buying: what a shame they killed good trees to produce it! Matthew Fox is renowned in the world of academia and learned theology for his sheer flakiness. He is no Hildegard authority, but only a Fox authority (MUCH less interesting). Anyone wanting a sound introduction to Hildegard, provided by specialists trained in the field of medieval studies, religion and literature, would be best served consulting the works of highly trained and eminently readable authors like Barbara Newman, Peter Dronke and Sabina Flanagan.Book Review: Glimpses of Hildegard under a heavy overlay of Fox.
Summary: 1 Stars
This book claims to be "Text by Hildegard of Bingen with commentary by Mathew Fox." In fact, it is nearly all Fox with only occasional brief quotes from Hildegard. Confusingly, Fox uses "illuminations" to mean what Hildegard and everyone else calls "visions" rather than the pictures in manuscripts which are properly called "illuminations." This book contains, however, twenty-five reproductions of these pictures. To judge from other reproductions of the same pictures, the quality of the reproduction seems mediocre. Here you can learn only what Matherw Fox, a Domican, thinks about these visions. To find out what Hildegard said about them visions -- which is far fresher and more stunning that what Fox has to say -- one will have to look elsewhere. As an introduction to Hildegard, I would suggest "Hildegard of Bingen, A Visionary Life" and "Secrets of God: Writings of Hildegard of Bingen," both by Sabina Flanagan.Book Review: A supurb introduction to western mystical theology.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used this book to introduce mystical theology to lay people. It has a feminist hook, so is very timely. The drawings (with commentaries) are also on slides. Hildegard's own commentaries on the drawings are clear and simple, so may be repeated in a running commentary with the presenter's own elaboration. The illuminations are colorful and very engaging to the eye. Creation (a sphere in the illumination) is described by H. as an egg, with feminist commentary. Creation is pictured also as a kite (the four compass points), with a tail connecting to an individual person. Very whimsical. Really great discussion starters!
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