This book investigates the phenomenon of xenoglossia, the purported ability to speak, understand, read, or write a foreign language without prior learning, within the context of late medieval hagiography and English literature. It examines how this miraculous gift was depicted and understood by examining textual evidence from the period. The author analyzes its appearance in the lives of saints and its representation in the works of prominent English writers.

This scholarly work is positioned as an in-depth academic study for specialists in medieval literature and linguistics. Its focus on specific textual examples and historical context suggests a dense, analytical approach. The book likely appeals to readers interested in the historical understanding of language, religious phenomena, and the works of Chaucer and Kempe.