Being a Pilgrim: Art and Ritual on the Medieval Routes to Santiago

The Way of St James has been a pilgrimage event for over 1000 years as people have flocked to the site of the burial of the apostle St James the Great. Legend states that the body of James was carried by boat from Jerusalem to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where a church was erected on the site of the tomb. There is no single route for the pilgrims to follow, but there are several key paths. Kathleen Ashley and Marilyn Deegan capture the experience of the medieval pilgrim through an examination of art, historical and social contexts as well as themes related to pilgrimage such as music, legend and ritual. The book is copiously illustrated with new photographs by Marilyn Deegan showcasing the visual legacy of the medieval pilgrimage experience in sculpture, painting and architecture. Interwoven in Kathleen Ashley's narrative text are original sources bringing to us the voice of these men and women who set out on what was then an epic journey.