"This study, the first large interdisciplinary study of a saint's cult in medieval England, explores the processes by which it came to have such a prominent place in the devotions of English men and women drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Written and visual narratives of the life of St. Katherine, in combination with documentary evidence provided by wills, inventories and gild returns, are used to illustrate ways in which devotees perceived and responded to her: St. Katherine embodied no one essential meaning, but served a variety of functions and had a number of religious, social and cultural roles assigned to her. By exploring these and other aspects of the cult, this study further illuminates the medieval society which held her in such great esteem."--Jacket.