Known primarily for her musical compositions, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) also produced major works of theology; wrote books on natural history, the medicinal use of plants, and other natural remedies; and radically explored issues of gender. Here is a vivid portrait of Hildegard's life from her entry into a male monastery at 8 years old to her establishment of a thriving convent and the explosion of genius in her middle years, to her eventual admission to the canon of saints.