Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England

Katherine Lewis

$305

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Routledge
22 August 2013

British & Irish history; Early history: c 500 to c 1450&1500; Social & cultural history; Gender studies, gender groups; Immunology; Medical toxicology; Biochemical immunology

Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England explores the dynamic between kingship and masculinity in fifteenth century England, with a particular focus on Henry V and Henry VI. The role of gender in the rhetoric and practice of medieval kingship is still largely unexplored by medieval historians. Discourses of masculinity informed much of the contemporary comment on fifteenth century kings, for a variety of purposes: to praise and eulogise but also to explain shortcomings and provide justification for deposition.

Katherine J. Lewis examines discourses of masculinity in relation to contemporary understandings of the nature and acquisition of manhood in the period and considers the extent to which judgements of a king’s performance were informed by his ability to embody the right balance of manly qualities. This book’s primary concern is with how these two kings were presented, represented and perceived by those around them, but it also asks how far Henry V and Henry VI can be said to have understood the importance of personifying a particular brand of masculinity in their performance of kingship and of meeting the expectations of their subjects in this respect. It explores the extent to which their established reputations as inherently ‘manly’ and ‘unmanly’ kings were the product of their handling of political circumstances, but owed something to factors beyond their immediate control as well. Consideration is also given to Margaret of Anjou’s manipulation of ideologies of kingship and manhood in response to her husband’s incapacity, and the ramifications of this for perceptions of the relational gender identities which she and Henry VI embodied together.

Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England is an essential resource for students of gender and medieval history.

By: Katherine Lewis
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 566g
ISBN: 9780415316132
ISBN 10: 0415316138
Pages: 294
Publication Date: 22 August 2013
Audience: College/higher education , Primary , A / AS level
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Katherine Lewis

Reviews for Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England

Lewis's work makes a major contribution to the history of kingship and of gender. This is an exemplary study that blends the political and the cultural in a groundbreaking study of two of the most crucial characters in later medieval English history. Mark Ormrod, University of York, UK 'Lewis admirably evaluates Henry V and Henry VI by reading monarchy through the lens of gender discourse. Summing Up: Recommended' - J. P. Huffman, Messiah College in CHOICE [This book] is written in an engaging but impeccably scholarly manner and will be of interest to medieval historians and historians and theorists of gender. -Thomas Ward, Loyola Marymount, USA