Between Medieval Men argues for the importance of synoptically examining the whole range of same-sex relations in the Anglo-Saxon period, revisiting well-known texts and issues (as well as material often considered marginal) from a radically different perspective. The introductory chapters first lay out the premises underlying the book and its critical context, then emphasise the need to avoid modern cultural assumptions about both male-female and male-male relationships, and underline the paramount place of homosocial bonds in Old English literature. Part II then investigates the construction of and attitudes to same-sex acts and identities in ethnographic, penitential, and theological texts, ranging widely throughout the Old English corpus and drawing on Classical, Medieval Latin, and Old Norse material. Part III expands the focus to homosocial bonds in Old English literature in order to explore the range of associations for same-sex intimacy and their representation in literary texts such as Genesis A, Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Dream of the Rood, The Phoenix, and AElfric's Lives of Saints. During the course of the book's argument, David Clark uncovers several under-researched issues and suggests fruitful approaches for their investigation. He concludes that, in omitting to ask certain questions of Anglo-Saxon material, in being too willing to accept the status quo indicated by the extant corpus, in uncritically importing invisible (because normative) heterosexist assumptions in our reading, we risk misrepresenting the diversity and complexity that a more nuanced approach to issues of gender and sexuality suggests may be more genuinely characteristic of the period.
Reviews
Review from previous edition important study * Clare Lees, Gender and History *
demonstrates qualities of scrupulous scholarship and careful thinking about difficult historical problems together with an alert sense of literary implications * A.S.G Edwards, Times Literary Supplement *
smart, elegant and ambitious * Robert Mills, Times Higher Education Supplement *
a sober, penetrating and comprehensive study of Anglo-Saxon literature...Clark's scholarly acumen waves like a banner above the whole project...`uhis is an impressive book by any standard, written by an equally impressive scholar * Bill Burgwinkle, Review of English Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199671175
Author David Clark
Format Paperback
Page Count 248
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 14mm