 Written in Old French, the book describes the annihilation of the soul, specifically its descent into a state of nothingness—of union with God without distinction.While clearly popular throughout the Middle Ages and beyond (perhaps dozens of copies circulated throughout late-medieval western Europe) the book provoked some controversy, likely because of statements such as "a soul annihilated in the love of the creator could, and should, grant to nature all that it desires," which some took to mean that a soul can become one with God and that when in this state it can ignore moral law, as it had no need for the Church and its sacraments, or its code of virtues.This was not what Porete taught, since she explained that souls in such a state desired only good and would not be able to sin.