The Book of Margery Kempe A page from the manuscript of The Book of Margery Kempe, written in the late 1430s and discovered in 1934. (more) The Book of Margery Kempe work by Kempe Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Book-of-Margery-Kempe Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Book-of-Margery-Kempe Written by Denise Imwold Denise Imwold is a contributor to 501 Must-Read Books. Denise Imwold Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 11, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question medieval memoir that is widely believed to be the first autobiography written in English. It was most likely written in the late 1430s. Extracts of the work first appeared in 1501 as a seven-page devotional pamphlet. The full manuscript languished in obscurity until 1934, when it was discovered in a home in Lancashire, and it was first published in 1936. Margery Kempe was the daughter of John Brunham, a prominent merchant in Norfolk, England. At the age of 20 she married John Kempe. Her story, which is written in the third person and is focused on her spiritual journey, begins ...(100 of 381 words)

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