Product Description

The absorbing subject of sexuality in the Middle Ages is examined here in 19 original articles written specifically for this handbook by major authorities in the field.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #460315 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 460 pages

Customer Reviews

A fascinating collection
This collection of essays covers an impressively wide variety of medieval sexual attitudes and practices, including canon law, castration, lesbianism and cross-dressing. The essay on medieval English literature leaves something to be desired, as it all but ignores Old English prose, thereby dismissing a vast amount of useful material on gender roles and religious sexuality. Furthermore, some of authors seem to suffer somewhat from a need to apply modern categories and moralities to the medieval situation, and the reader must bear this in mind in order to get the most out of the collection. Nonetheless, a thoughtful, interesting and well-ordered book which provides a much-needed insight into medieval sexuality.