Lady Godiva: A Literary History of the Legend

Posterity remembers Lady Godiva for her naked horseback ride through the city of Coventry, but that is only part of her story. This book investigates who Lady Godiva really was and traces the evolution of the Godiva legend from its first appearance in the thirteenth century through to the present day. Two recurring themes to emerge from the many retellings and reinterpretations of the legend are voyeurism and medievalism - the projection of contemporary desires back onto the Middle Ages. These form touchstones for discussion in each chapter. The book proceeds in chronological order, each chapter exploring an aspect of the legend which carried special significance for the period in question.By combining history, literature, art and folklore, this book makes a memorable contribution to our understanding of cultural history, medievalism and the history of sexuality.