MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30 2013 11WomenTalk

AT THE cost of yourconscience and thetruth, would yousave your career bysmearing a whistle-

blower in a scandal that mayimplicate your lover?That is the dilemma that FleetStreet journalist Joanna facesin new novel The Greeningwhen she stumbles uponthe confessional journal of awoman named Anna Leigh whilebrowsing in an antiquarianbookshop to buy a gift forher lover – a married Cabinetmember.It is through Anna that Joannalearns of Julian of Norwich – areal-life 14th century mystic anda woman who risked everythingfor the truth.After a career on Fleet Street andat the BBC, journalist MargaretColes has dipped into theliterary scene with her debutnovel which tells how the livesof two very modern womenare forever changed when theyencounter Julian of Norwich.Joanna finds out that certainthings that are happening in herlife are reflected in what Annais saying about hers. ThinkingAnna has the answers to herproblems, Joanna embarks tofind the diarist – but can’t findany trace of her.Little is known about the Englishnun Julian of Norwich, who livedfrom roughly 1342 to 1416, other

than that mystical visions at theage of 30 propelled her to spendthe rest of her life writing thefirst book written by a woman inthe English language.Now venerated by the Anglican,Catholic and Lutheran Churches,her radical writings on thenature of God and sin were soheretical at the time that theyand she herself risked being putto the torch.However, Coles sees her as aninspirational figure and TheGreening as a life-affirming novel.“The Greening is a feel-goodbook,” she says.” It doesn’tproselytise or preach; rather, it’swritten as a literary novel, agood story comprising two lovestories and a detective storywith a mystery at its heart.”Joanna, says Coles, is “being put

under a lot of pressure tocompromise her principlesand feels that the buildingblocks of her life aretumbling around her”when she encounters Julian ofNorwich’s teachings throughher search for the other maincharacter.“Julian challenges her and makesher think about the way she isliving her life,” the author says.Inspiration for The Greeningcame from not only Coles’sexperience as a journalist butalso from her own discovery ofJulian of Norwich.“I came across Julian by chancebut Julian says that nothinghappens by chance,” says Coles.It was on a visit to Norwich’s900-year-old cathedral.“Just as I was leaving, I spotted aleaflet in a display notice boardand it just caught my eye,” shesaid.Intrigued, Coles followed itsdirections to Julian’s

single-room cellattached to StJulian’s Church,from which themystic took hername.

“The atmosphere in the cell wasjust so beautiful and so peacefulthat it really engaged with me,”says Coles.“I just had this wonderful feelingof peace, joy and calm. The moreI read of Julian, the more shefascinated me. I tried to imaginewhat it must be like to risk yourlife to tell a story – it’s more thanmost journalists expect to do.”After experiencing her visionswhile seriously ill, Julian becamean anchoress – a hermit – andlived in her cell, according toColes.“She spent the next 40 yearspondering the meaning of thevisions and then writing herbook, Revelations of DivineLove. She wrote a book notknowing when or if it could ever

be published so it was a real actof faith,” says Coles.The final version, at an amazing63,599 words, relayed visions ofthe crucifixion and the forgivingnature of God. Writing at thetime of plague epidemics andthe Hundred Years’ War, Julianradically said suffering is notpunishment from God and sin isa necessary learning experiencecaused not by the evil of manbut by ignorance and naivety.“It would have gone very muchagainst the orthodoxies ofthe day,” says Coles. “Had shebeen caught, she would havebeen branded a heretic and thepunishment for heresy was to beburnt at the stake.”It wasn’t until 1670 that Julian’smanuscripts were first publishedand then only reprinted in 1843.Starting in the late 19th and early20th century, interest in Julianof Norwich’s writings grew and,according to Coles, there arenow 450 Julian contemplatingprayer groups across the UKthat regularly meet to read herwritings and an internationalmagazine.Coles thinks Julian’s writings arevery relevant for today; “In fact,some of the Julian experts thinkher teachings were kept for ustoday – they were meant for ustoday,” she says.n The Greening by MargaretColes is published by HayHouse, priced £8.99.

“I just had this wonderful feeling of peace,joy and calm. The more I read of Julian,the more she fascinated me. I tried toimagine what it must be like to risk yourlife to tell a story – it’s more than mostjournalists expect to do”

Margaret Coles

n IN TOUCH WITHHISTORY:

Margaret Coles

Former journalistMargaret Coles’sdebut novel isa love story,detective taleand mysterypartly inspiredby a 14thcentury mystic,the first womanto write a bookin the Englishlanguage.The author spoketo AndrewCoffman-Smith

A lovestorywithmysteryat itsheart

www.thequays.co.ukWhere the Journey Continues...

THE QUAYSBIG AUTUMN/WINTERFASHION SHOW 2013

SATURDAY 5thOctoberTHE QUAYSBIG AUTUMN/WINTERFASHION SHOW 2013

Walk This Way...Walk This Way...