The Scale of Perfection

This guide to the contemplative life, written in two books of more than 40,000 words each, is notable for its careful explorations of its religious themes and also as a monument of Middle English prose.

Augustinian canon Walter Hilton’s The Scale of Perfection maintains a secure place among the major mystical writings that flourished in fourteenth-century England. Composed between 1380 and 1396, The Scale of Perfection is addressed to a woman who has recently taken her religious vows, and defends Hilton’s orthodox beliefs with strikingly visual imagery. Written over two books of more than 40,000 words each, the titular Scale describes a stairway to heaven which the religious can ascend by following Hilton’s moral advice; his topics range from defining the contemplative life and overcoming the seven deadly sins to reforming the human soul in the divine image of God and opening one’s inner eye. A popular treatise, it circulated in 42 manuscripts, was translated into Latin, and was printed by Wynkyn de Worde. While there have been multiple translations of the Scale, this is the first complete edition of the Middle English text.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.