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Episode details

Radio 3,30 Mar 2026,14 mins

Series The Lives of Hildegard of Bingen

Episode 1

The Essay

Available for over a year

Hildegard of Bingen — medieval nun turned composer, mystic, political adviser, botanist, philosopher, theologian, medic, scientist, and later, saint. Hildegard watches her bones exhumed by inquisitive Victorians. She’s been moved several times since death: stolen, saved, hidden. Denied peace in life and death. She decides to set the record straight, and tell her extraordinary story. A childhood filled with visions she can’t explain changes abruptly when she is given away to the Church to become an anchoress. Aged 14, she is shut away in a cell attached to a church. She thinks it’s for life… Written by Anna Linstrum Performed by Juliet Stevenson Produced and directed by Fay Lomas Sound design by Nigel Lewis Production co-ordinator: Eleri McAuliffe

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