The Magdalene in the Reformation

“Arnold presents a meticulously researched account of the figure of the Magdalene as late-medieval piety gave way to the age of reform.”—Elizabeth Bruenig, The New York Review of Books

“Scholars interested in the evolving character of the Biblical Mary will relish Arnold’s lucid text.”—Publishers Weekly

“Arnold poses important questions about the roles of women in the Reformation and the ways in which Mary Magdalene was appropriated as a model. Indeed, the diverse ways in which Mary was a source of spiritual authority, enabling female writers to explore a range of crucial issues, is one of the book’s most significant contributions. The analysis is crisp and insightful, and Arnold has a sharp eye for continuities and change.”—Bruce Gordon, Yale Divinity School

“Promises to change our understanding of Reformation history and women’s place in it. Rather than a simple loss or win for women, the Reformation depicted here is filled with ambivalence, conflict, and negotiation when it comes to women’s roles. Arnold shows the Magdalene was a powerful figure for debating contemporary issues for women in the church, state, and family.”—Melissa Sanchez, University of Pennsylvania

“The Magdalene in the Reformation considers all aspects of this formidable New Testament figure across both Protestant and Catholic Reformations. As she traces women writers and religious activists who used Mary Magdalene to explore their own relationship to Christianity, Arnold convincingly demonstrates the important role Mary played for women regardless of their confessional persuasion.”—Jane Tylus, Yale University