Sexuality in the Medieval West

This invaluable reference work addresses sex, gender, and sexuality in medieval Europe and North Africa, providing an important update to collections of the 1990s. With lucid definitions, theoretical engagement, and wide geographic coverage, it is the new indispensable guide to the subject. The editors and authors establish institutional foundations and explore expressions of sex and sexuality across medieval cultures, analyzing examples from legal, religious, artistic, literary, medical, and other sources. The collection begins with a section devoted to definitions and vocabulary before progressing to cultural topics and concluding with geographically-specific traditions and practices related to sexuality. Essays authored by specialists in relevant fields include both primary and secondary sources, contain examinations of the three major religions, and address broader cultural and historical ramifications of these topics.

Michelle M. Sauer is Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of English and Gender Studies at the University of North Dakota. A specialist in medieval religion and gender, she also authored Gender in Medieval Culture.

Jenny C. Bledsoe is an Associate Professor of English and Director of the Center for Women's Studies at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. Her research focuses on medieval and early modern literature, religion, manuscripts, and gender.