In Norwich

Visiting Norwich, we heard of Puritan iconoclastic vandalism in the Cathedral. For Poul Anderson's humorous treatment of the Puritans, see here. For the benefit of any blog readers interested in mysticism, may I add that we also visited a chapel built on the site of the cell of Dame Julian of Norwich, the first woman to write a book in English.

We are also close to Walsingham, where the Virgin Mary was seen. Poul and Karen Anderson have Gratillonius, the last King of Ys, addressing Mary in prayer shortly after his conversion from Mithraism to Roman Christianity. In Poul Anderson's "Star of the Sea," Mary incorporates symbols of star and sea previously associated with a goddess.

The theme of this post and of a previous one is that fiction and literature resonate as we tour historical sites.