William A. Christian, Jnr. Apparitions in Late Medieval and Renaissance Spain. Princeton U.P 1981.
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This is an excellent study of visions of the BVM and other saints in social/cultural contexts, and is one of the best studies of 'visionary' experience I have read: it deserves an audience wider than specialists in Spanish religious history. Points to note include the range of Virgin apparitions from multiple witnesses, grand drama, with UFO-like overtones (witness awoken from sleep by brilliant light and barking of dogs for instance), to much more intimate, low key ghost/fairy type single percipient events; the high standard of 15th century investigation; and the role of physical evidence as a 'sign' continuing the visions.
Peter Rogerson, Magonoa 23, 1985
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