A unique glimpse into the mind of the 12-century visionaryHildegardofBingenthrough her"creative and insightful"writings on medicine, spirituality, and more (Booklist) Visionary, mystic, poet, musician, naturalist, healer, theologian-the Rhineland nunHildegardofBingen(1098-1179) was a Renaissance woman longbefore there was a Renaissance. This is the first book in English to offer a representative selection of writings from all of her amazing range of work. Hildegardwrote many volumes on subjects from mystical vision to sexuality, from theology to natural medicine-in letters, treatises, poetry, and songs-all in an age when few women wrote more than an occasional letter. She was a woman of extraordinary influence whose work not only surpassed that of her male contemporaries in its range, but also outshone them in visionary beauty and intellectual power. This collection includes a brief biography ofHildegard, and selections from the following works- .Scivias (literally, "know the ways"), the record ofHildegard'svisions and her commentary on them . The Book of Life's Merits, visionary work . The Book of Divine Works, a work of cosmology and anthropology . Natural History, a record of plants, animals, and minerals, translated here into English for the first time . Causes and Cures, a compendium of her writing on natural medicine . Symphonia, her songs and poetry . Biographical works . Selected letters