Rape in Early Modern England: Law, History and Criticism. Helen Barker. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021. xiv + 128 pp. $54.99

According to Barker, numerous studies have cited Bashar's analysis since it was published in 1983 but have often read it uncritically, citing Bashar's assertions as fact. Again, Barker emphasizes that the discussions of sexual assault law by the authors of legal textbooks stemmed from vari...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRenaissance quarterly Vol. 76; no. 4; pp. 1544 - 1545
Main Author Dunn, Caroline
Format Journal Article Book Review
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Cambridge University Press 01.12.2023
Subjects
Attitudes
Bibliographic literature
Early modern period
Historiography
History
Law
Patriarchy
Rape
Sex crimes
Stereotypes
Textbooks
United Kingdom > UK
England
Online AccessGet full text

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Summary:According to Barker, numerous studies have cited Bashar's analysis since it was published in 1983 but have often read it uncritically, citing Bashar's assertions as fact. Again, Barker emphasizes that the discussions of sexual assault law by the authors of legal textbooks stemmed from various religious and cultural beliefs about women and the social order, a necessary point for understanding why opinions might diverge. Published during the era of the burgeoning print industry, possibly on speculation that it would find a home with lay readers building libraries, The Lawes Resolutions instead generated little reading interest, and should not be relied upon by modern scholars seeking an accurate evaluation of rape law in early modern England, although its sometimes playful tone and revelations of gender stereotypes make it useful for social history.
ISSN:0034-4338
1935-0236
DOI:10.1017/rqx.2023.580