Soul-Health

‘The health of the soul preoccupied medieval Christians and their use of medical terms, for it was no metaphor. Daniel McCann shows how pious reading could be therapeutic for the soul, because of the deep emotions it evoked. His book is a major contribution to both medical humanities and medieval literary studies.’
-Professor Peregrine Horden, Professor of Medieval History, University of London

‘This important volume, which explores the concept of therapeutic reading in late medieval English religious culture, demonstrates a deep knowledge of medieval theories about affect, combined with acute sensitivity to the specific ways in which religious writings produce feeling in their recipients.’
-Denis Renevey, Professor of Medieval English Language and Literature, University of Lausanne

‘In this important re-orientation of the “affective turn”, Daniel McCann argues that there is always a dynamic interconnectedness between emotional and psychological states, and that those states are labile and complex. Emotional progression and movement are the essence of “soule-hele” in the Middle English texts that he analyses. He generates persuasive and powerful close readings through the application of a subtle conceptual model, blending medieval cognitive theory and medical theory and praxis. McCann shows that medical terms in religious writing are not gestural metaphors, but are part of a literal repertoire of spiritual healing, offering a genuine “medicine of words”.’
-Professor Vincent Gillespie, University of Oxford

‘Daniel McCann's intense and provocative book offers strong re-readings of the wealth of Middle English contemplative writings describing the processes of spiritual self-care using the language of medicine, and shows that language to be fundamental to their understanding of the work they set out to do for, and in, their readers. Soul-Health is a major contribution to the study both of late-medieval religious literature and of the sometimes dangerous role played by the passions, negative as well as positive, in late-medieval devotion.’
-Professor Nicholas Watson, Harvard University

'A fascinating and thoroughly researched book that will quickly become essential reading for anyone working on the medical humanities, history of emotions, or devotional reading practices in late medieval England.'
- Marjorie Harrington, H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online

'The great contribution of this book is to bring into focus the explicit, evident and not-soevident connections between devout reading and spiritual health. This it does by a commendable range of reference and considered understanding of a number of particularly appropriate texts, practices that effectively lead to new insight into the power and
effectiveness of late medieval British devotion.'
- John C. Hirsh in the Heythrop Journal

'I find the strength of McCann’s book lies in opening up a new way for reading pastoral works – a way which seems more akin to their original function in helping
their audiences holistically to tackle theological, psychological and medical needs. Readers of Soul-Health will find insightful discussions of numerous texts which reaffirm the usefulness of medical humanities, and we may look forward to more investigations into traditions of bibliotherapeutic practices of the past.'
- Reviewed by Dirk Schultze, University of Göttingen in ANGLIA. Journal of English Philology

'The strength of McCann’s book lies in opening up a new way for reading pastoral works – a way which seems more akin to their original function in helping their audiences holistically to tackle theological, psychological and medical needs. Readers of Soul-Health will find insightful discussions of numerous texts which reaffirm the usefulness of medical humanities, and we may look forward to more investigations into traditions of bibliotherapeutic practices of the past.'
- Reviewed by Dirk Schultze, University of Göttingen in Anglia

'Daniel McCann contributes to several major conversations within and beyond medieval studies: the history of emotions, theories and histories of reading, and the role of affect in devotional practices. Drawing principally from texts contained in the Vernon manuscript (c. 1400), McCann's study is an invaluable addition to our understanding of medieval vernacular devotional reading practices.'
- The Medieval Review. Read the full review here https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/tmr/article/view/31885/35824