Prick of Conscience: A Critical Edition, published as part of the Medium Aevum Monographs series, presents a comprehensive edition of the widely circulated 14th-century Middle English religious poem Prick of Conscience. This penitential text, attributed to a Northern English cleric, reflects the moral and religious concerns of medieval England, addressing themes such as sin, death, judgment, and the afterlife. Through vivid imagery and straightforward verse, the poem urges readers to reflect on the transient nature of life and the need for repentance.

The critical edition, meticulously edited from various manuscripts, consolidates the most reliable version of the text, while also documenting significant variations between different manuscripts. Accompanied by a detailed introduction, the book explores the historical, linguistic, and theological context of the poem, offering insights into medieval piety and the ways in which religious literature shaped moral behavior.

This edition serves as an essential resource for scholars of medieval English literature, theology, and manuscript studies. By providing an accessible text alongside critical notes and contextual analysis, it opens a window into the spiritual concerns of the medieval world and the enduring popularity of penitential literature.