Prostitution in Medieval and Early Modern Literature The Dark Side of Sex and Love in the Premodern Era

Prostitution is known as the oldest profession in the history of humanity. While historians have already given due consideration to the profession's social and cultural meanings across time periods, little has been written about literary representations of prostitution. Prostitution in Medieval and Early Modern Literature analyses the work of writers from an array of social positions, including courtly poets and even religious writers, dealing with the topic during the medieval and early modern periods. Its study shows that prostitutes and brothel owners were present on the literary stage far more often than we might have assumed. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach and incorporating relevant sources from across the entire European continent dating from the early Middle Ages to the sixteenth century, it examines the phenomenon of prostitution in a variety of contexts and highlights the extent to which the institution mattered for both the higher and the lower classes.

About the author

Albrecht Classen is University Distinguished Professor of German Studies at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Product details

• Authors: Classen Albrecht, Albrecht Classen
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 04.06.2021
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Fiction > Poetry, drama
• EAN: 9781498585828
• ISBN: 978-1-4985-8582-8
• Pages: 244
• Series: Studies in Medieval Literature
• Subjects: Boccaccio, Europe, European History, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / General, HISTORY / Women, LITERARY CRITICISM / Women Authors, Oswald von Wolkenstein, Christine de Pizan, Medieval History, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literature: history & criticism, Social and cultural history, Gender studies: women, Gender studies: women and girls, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Literature: history and criticism, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, Fabliaux, Fernando de Rojas, go-between, maeren, Hrotsvit of Gandersheim