Illuminations:a novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt

I have often found the stories of Hildegard fascinating. They all seemed to center around the idea of this brilliant woman who chose the religious life in order to pursue her intellectual interests.  This is not that story.  This is the mystical Hildegard.  As a young child she is bricked into an anchorage to be the servant for the beautiful, saintly Jutta von Spodheim.  Eventually Hildegard's own visions, poetry, and music place her in the spotlight.  This is the early church at it's most mystical and a very odd life indeed.