AKempis Thomas

A Kempis, Thomas, the author of De Imitations Christi, was born at Kempen (whence he took his name) about 1380. The greater part of his life was spent in a monastery at Zwolle, near the Zuyder Zee. Here he became sub-prior in 1429 and remained there until his death in 1471. Some critics affirm that he was only the copyist of the Imitatio Christi, but it seems to be now agreed that he was actually the author of this, one of the most beautiful of devotional books.