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The Mirror of Simple Souls By Marguerite Porete In Plain English
The Mirror of Simple Souls (In Plain English)
By Marguerite Porete Translated and Adapted by Ben Kucenski
A timeless spiritual masterpiece—now in clear, modern English.
First condemned as heresy and its author burned at the stake, The Mirror of Simple Souls remains one of the most profound and daring mystical works of the Middle Ages. This modern English edition restores the luminous clarity of Marguerite Porete’s a soul stripped of self, surrendered wholly to God, and led by pure love beyond virtue, law, or even Church authority.
Written as a dialogue between Love, Reason, the Soul, and others, this book challenges readers to consider a radical path of spiritual freedom. The Soul who has become "nothing" speaks of a divine union so complete that she no longer desires heaven or fears hell—only God’s will.
With poetic intensity and stunning insight, Porete describes the stages of spiritual transformation, the death of the ego, and the mystical freedom of the soul who lives no longer for herself, but in God alone.
This new adaptation brings Porete’s beautiful, often obscure medieval prose into vivid, readable language without losing its mystical depth or complexity. Ideal for modern readers, spiritual seekers, and lovers of contemplative theology.
By Marguerite Porete Translated and Adapted by Ben Kucenski
A timeless spiritual masterpiece—now in clear, modern English.
First condemned as heresy and its author burned at the stake, The Mirror of Simple Souls remains one of the most profound and daring mystical works of the Middle Ages. This modern English edition restores the luminous clarity of Marguerite Porete’s a soul stripped of self, surrendered wholly to God, and led by pure love beyond virtue, law, or even Church authority.
Written as a dialogue between Love, Reason, the Soul, and others, this book challenges readers to consider a radical path of spiritual freedom. The Soul who has become "nothing" speaks of a divine union so complete that she no longer desires heaven or fears hell—only God’s will.
With poetic intensity and stunning insight, Porete describes the stages of spiritual transformation, the death of the ego, and the mystical freedom of the soul who lives no longer for herself, but in God alone.
This new adaptation brings Porete’s beautiful, often obscure medieval prose into vivid, readable language without losing its mystical depth or complexity. Ideal for modern readers, spiritual seekers, and lovers of contemplative theology.
254 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2025
About the author
Marguerite Porete
18 books37 followersMarguerite Porete (parfois nommée Marguerite Porrette, Marguerite Porette ou la Porette) est une béguine et femme de lettres mystique, née vers 1250, brûlée en place de Grève (à Paris, France) le 1er juin 1310 avec son livre Le Miroir des âmes simples.
Marguerite Porete (died 1310) was a French beguine, mystic and the author of The Mirror of Simple Souls, a work of Christian spirituality dealing with the workings of Divine Love. She was burnt at the stake for heresy in Paris in 1310.
(Sources:Wikipedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Marguerite Porete (died 1310) was a French beguine, mystic and the author of The Mirror of Simple Souls, a work of Christian spirituality dealing with the workings of Divine Love. She was burnt at the stake for heresy in Paris in 1310.
(Sources:Wikipedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 18, 2026
This was beautiful and really difficult and made me cry at various points and utterly confused at others. She was burned at the stake for this message, one I really don't think I can distill even after finishing her book.
March 18, 2026
No more modernized than the Ellen Babinsky translation.
Has missing words and spelling errors.
It really reads like an AI generated memory of a book rather than a translation or paraphrase.
Has missing words and spelling errors.
It really reads like an AI generated memory of a book rather than a translation or paraphrase.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews