An enjoyable romp, smart as well as funny. It left me fully satisfied, with a big smile on my face.' Dan Jones, Sunday Times
'Masterful. There is no better guide to what occurs betwixt the sheets of the medieval bedroom than Katherine Harvey.' Kate Lister, author of A Curious History of Sex
'Learned, fun and full of surprises - a fascinating, wide-ranging guide to medieval sexual attitudes and experiences.' Fara Dabhoiwala, author of The Origins of Sex
The medieval humoral system of medicine suggested that it was possible to die from having 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 conform to restrictive rules about who they could have sex with, in what way, how often, and even when, and could be harshly punished for getting it wrong. Other experiences are more familiar. Like us, medieval people faced challenges in finding a suitable partner or trying to get pregnant (or trying not to). They also struggled 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 Fires of Lust brings ordinary medieval people to life, and reveals details of their most personal thoughts and experiences. Ultimately, it provides us with an important and intimate connection to the past.