Katherine Harvey

An insightful exploration of the surprisingly familiar sex lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages.

The medieval humoral medical system suggested that it was possible to die from too much or too little sex, while the Roman Catholic Church taught that virginity was the ideal state. Holy men and women committed themselves to lifelong abstinence in the name of religion. Everyone was forced to adhere to strict rules about whom they could have sex with, in what ways, how often, and even when, and could face harsh punishment for getting it wrong. Other experiences are more familiar. Like us, people in the Middle Ages faced challenges in finding a suitable partner or trying to conceive (or avoid pregnancy). They also dealt with many of the same social issues, such as whether prostitution should be legalized. Above all, they shared our fondness for dirty jokes and erotic images. By exploring their sex lives, the book brings ordinary people of the Middle Ages to life and reveals details of their most personal thoughts and experiences. Ultimately, it offers us an important and intimate connection to the past.