The Boundaries of Eros: Sex Crime and Sexuality in Renaissance Venice

by Guido Ruggiero

Description

Utilizing the records of several Venetian courts that dealt with sex crimes, Ruggiero traces the evolution of both licit and illicit sexuality during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Through this examination of illicit sexuality, Ruggiero sheds light on the institutions, languages, social life, and values not only of this shadow-culture, but also of Venetian society and, ultimately, the Renaissance itself.

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1 review

KatiaMDavis 328 reviews

This book was not what I expected. It uses records of criminal activity to spot sexual goings on. It is quite repetitive and I became bored with it quite easily but pushed through to the end. I had been hoping for a little more scandal and debauchery. I can't say I would recommend it as a good read, but it would be useful as a research tool to avoid locating the original data, which I imagine took a long time.

Dec 19, 2017

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majystr1 1 review

Oct 13, 2025

Oreillynsf 235 reviews