Title: Performing virginity and testing chastity in the Middle Ages
Description: "Performing Virginity and Testing Chastity in the Middle Ages challenges the belief that female virginity can be reliably and unambiguously defined, tested, and verified. Kelly analyzes a variety of medieval Western European texts, including medical treatises and their classical antecedents, and historical and legal documents. The main focus is the representation of both female and male virgins in saints' legends and romances. The author also explores examples from contemporary fiction, television, and film in which testing virginity is a theme."--Jacket.
Subjects: Virginity, History and criticism, Medieval Literature, Christianity and literature, Christianity, Virginity in literature, Christian hagiography, History of doctrines, Romances, History, Literature, medieval, history and criticism, Virginity, religious aspects, Romances, history and criticism, Europe, history, Hagiography, Littérature médiévale, Histoire et critique, Roman courtois, Virginité dans la littérature, Hagiographie chrétienne, LITERARY CRITICISM, Gay & Lesbian, Religious aspects, Sexual Abstinence, In folklore, mythology, & religion