Lady Godiva

The History of a Legend

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by Daniel Donoghue

Blackwell Publishers

Due/Published January 2003, 224 pages, paper

ISBN 1405100478

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 chapters proceed in chronological order, each selecting an aspect of the legend which carries special significance in 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.

Contents

Abbreviations. Acknowledgements. List of Illustrations. Introduction. 1. Godgifu of Mercia. 2. Godiva Emerges. 3. Godiva's Progress. 4. Peeping Tom. 5. Godiva Domesticated. 6. Godiva Displayed. Bibliography. Index.