{"product_id":"chaste-passions-medieval-english-virgin-martyr-legends-9780801485572","title":"Chaste Passions: Medieval English Virgin Martyr Legends","description":"\u003cp\u003eI must again emphasise how impressive  overall  this collection truly is  and how Winsteads translations will open up possible classroom discussions.... This is a fine anthology  and an important  andit must be saidfun addtion to any bookshelf.  Jacqueline Jenkins  University of Calgary  Arthuriana Virgin martyrs make up one of the largest categories of medieval saints. To judge by their frequent appearances in art and literature  they also figure among the most venerated. The legends of virgin martyrs  retold in various ways through the centuries  illuminate trends in popular piety  values  and literary tastes. Chaste Passions contains sixteen English virgin martyr legends  each of a different saint and each translated into colloquial  modern English prose. Faithful in tone and meaning to the originals  Karen Winsteads lively translations allow contemporary readers to appreciate why virgin martyr legends thrived for hundreds of years. Winstead presents the tales in chronological order  tracing the effects of the composition and tastes of the audience on the development of the genre. The virgin martyr  Winstead tells us  escapes the confining female stereotypesdemure maiden or disruptive shrewprevalent in writings of the period. Because nearly all of the texts were written by men but addressed to women  they exhibit a fascinating interplay between male views of so-called womens literature and the demands of their intended audience. Familiarity with this widely read genre is essential to a full understanding of medieval culture  and Chaste Passions is an excellent introduction to these often racy  sometimes comic  tales\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647844933685,"sku":"ByrdShop_0801485576","price":39.17,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780801485572.jpg?v=1781697910","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/chaste-passions-medieval-english-virgin-martyr-legends-9780801485572","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}