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Article: De-sexing the Middle Ages.(Sexuality in Medieval Europe: Doing unto Others)(Book review)
- Article from:
- The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide
- Article date:
- May 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Gay & Lesbian Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Sexuality in Medieval Europe: Doing unto Others
by Ruth Mazo Karras
Routledge Press. 200 pages, 27.95
SCHOLARS CONTINUE to be conflicted over medieval homosexuality. They all agree that same-sex acts occurred, but they disagree over attitude and nomenclature, leading one to wonder, When is anal sex not anal sex?
For better or worse, most people derive their understanding of medieval homosexuals from Chaucer's Pardoner. Notwithstanding his fake relics and bogus pardons, the Pardoner isn't a terribly bad man (by Chaucer's standards); he's accepted into the fold by the other pilgrims, and his fellow travelers do like his tale--even if it ...