Naked Before God

The legacy of Adam and Eve brought about the connection between the idea of shame and embarrassment and nakedness, although it could also be associated with freedom of expression, defiance and triumph. These ten essays explore concepts and instances of the naked form in Anglo-Saxon literature and culture, examining prose, poetry, legal and penitential texts, sculpture and other imagery. The wide-ranging scope of the book, and the different views expressed, reflect the lack of coherent ideology in the representation of the naked body of the period. From beautiful girls to mutilated criminals, from body tariffs in early Anglo-Saxon law to heroic body parts in epic literature, from the Bayeux Tapestry to nudity in manuscript illuminations, the book covers much ground.