'What gives this book added interest is its historical range... will endure as a source of reference for many years to come... thought-provoking study.' -The Review of English Studies
'The scholarship demonstrated in this work is exemplary. There are extensive sources and documentation; pertinent citations are always translated. Terms are meticulously defined... The Appendix contains succinct but thorough summaries of incest stories; the bibliography is exhaustive, making this book a substantial research tool and reference for a powerful literary theme. Anyone working on the theme of incest in medieval literature should read this book. Anyone who appreciates excellent scholarship in general will want to read this book for the pure pleasure of it.' -Linda M. Rouillard, University of Toledo
'Elizabeth Archibald's book makes an admirable introduction to the whole topic.' -Times Literary SupplementIncest was a social problem in the Middle Ages, and also a popular literary theme. This wide-ranging study is the first survey of medieval incest stories in their cultural context. Did they reflect real life situations? How was incest defined in the Middle Ages? How were classical incest stories treated by medieval writers? Why was incest such a popular motif in the legendary lives of popes and saints, and why was it inserted into the stories of great heroes such as Charlemagne and Arthur?
