Wild Woman: A Footnote, the Desert, and My Quest for an Elusive Saint

By Amy Frykholm

Runaway. Castaway. Prostitute. Hermit. Desert dweller. Saint. Boundary breaker. Archetypal wild woman. In the corner of a library, in a dusty stack of books, in the footnote of an obscure text, journalist Amy Frykholm discovered a short citation about Mary of Egypt, all but unknown to most, and herself a footnote in ancient history. Not knowing why or from where, Frykholm felt called by this ancient woman's story. Thus begins the story of her decades-long search to uncover the truth about the woman who, by her own devices, figured out how to acquire what she most wanted--and when she did, discovered that it wasn't enough.

With a scholar's eye and a mystic's heart, Frykholm offers a look at an elusive and dynamic figure from history while offering insights into our own inner--and potentially rewilded--lives. In search of Mary, the author traveled throughout Egypt, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, walking deeper and deeper into the desert, across thresholds of space and time, to find the meaning of Mary of Egypt's life--as well as her own embrace of the wild and sacred within.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1506471854
• ISBN13: 9781506471853
• Release Date: August 2021
• Publisher: Broadleaf Books
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating, insightful read

Amy Frykholm's exploration of the Judean desert in search of Mary of Egypt, her archetypal "Wild Woman" is a fascinating journey full of wrong turns and unexpected discoveries. I loved Amy's devotion to following in the footsteps of an obscure, old story that captured her imagination as well as her devotion. This book reminds me of how I feel when I discover something strange and exciting, the thrill of learning everything you can about something the world seems to know so little about. This is a must read for anyone who is thrilled by the act of searching, no matter the outcome.