Hildegard of Bingen fascinated her contemporaries because she unwaveringly followed her path. Her visionary talent helped her to get to the bottom of things and understand the connections between the micro and macrocosm. This historically critical biography interprets Hildegard's life and work in the context of 12th-century church and contemporary history, examines the rich traditions surrounding the Benedictine church teacher, and takes a critical look at the reception of Hildegard in recent decades.