Lady Godiva
A Literary History of the Legend
1. Edition December 2002
172 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-0046-5
John Wiley & Sons
This book investigates who Lady Godiva was, how the story of her
naked horseback ride through Coventry arose, and how the whole
Godiva legend has evolved from the thirteenth century through to
the present day.
* * Traces the erotic myth of Lady Godiva back to its medieval
origins.
* Based on scholarly research but written to be accessible to
general readers.
* Combines history, literature, art and folklore.
* Focuses on the twin themes of voyeurism and medievalism.
* Contributes to our understanding of cultural history,
medievalism and the history of sexuality.
Acknowledgements.
List of Illustrations.
List of Abbreviations.
Introduction.
1. Godgifu of Mercia.
2. Godiva Emerges.
3. Godiva's Progress.
4. Peeping Tom.
5. Godiva Domesticated.
6. Godiva Displayed.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Index.
List of Illustrations.
List of Abbreviations.
Introduction.
1. Godgifu of Mercia.
2. Godiva Emerges.
3. Godiva's Progress.
4. Peeping Tom.
5. Godiva Domesticated.
6. Godiva Displayed.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Index.
"There is much of interest in this unpretenious, historically
grounded and thoughtful book[...]For those seeking ways of
exploring the new discipline of medievalism, that is, how the
medieval past is viewed, guiltily or otherwise, by successive eras
- Daniel Donoghue's study offers an inspiring model of clarity and
cogency." Times Literary Supplement
"Intelligent yet entertaining, this text will appeal to readers
interested in folklore, literature, history, and pop culture. [...]
Highly recommended." Choice
"Donoghue's history of Lady Godiva is a luxurious, gratifying
read - one feels upon finishing it that one has become quite the
expert on this slightly naughty topic![...] Donoghue's writing
style is upbeat and enjoyably irreverent, conveying hs personal
enthusiasm for a subject which he has obviously researched
exhaustively and conscientiously." Journal of Medieval and
Renaissance Studies
grounded and thoughtful book[...]For those seeking ways of
exploring the new discipline of medievalism, that is, how the
medieval past is viewed, guiltily or otherwise, by successive eras
- Daniel Donoghue's study offers an inspiring model of clarity and
cogency." Times Literary Supplement
"Intelligent yet entertaining, this text will appeal to readers
interested in folklore, literature, history, and pop culture. [...]
Highly recommended." Choice
"Donoghue's history of Lady Godiva is a luxurious, gratifying
read - one feels upon finishing it that one has become quite the
expert on this slightly naughty topic![...] Donoghue's writing
style is upbeat and enjoyably irreverent, conveying hs personal
enthusiasm for a subject which he has obviously researched
exhaustively and conscientiously." Journal of Medieval and
Renaissance Studies
Daniel G. Donoghue is Professor of English at Harvard University. He is the author of Style in Old English Poetry (1987) and co-editor, with Seamus Heaney, of Beowulf: A Verse Translation (2002). He is also the author of the chapter on Lady Godiva in Literary Appropriations of the Anglo-Saxons from the Thirteenth to the Twentieth Century (eds Donald Scragg and Carole Weinberg, 2000).
