Thomas à Kempis is one of the best known and most beloved medieval Christian spiritual writers. Millions of Christians have found his work The Imitation of Christ to be a treasured and constant source of edification, and it has been translated into an astonishingly wide range of languages.

Thomas Hammerken was born at Kempen in the Duchy of Cleves about 1380. He was educated at Deventer by the Brethren of the Common Life, and joined their order …