Affections of the Mind: The Politics of Sacramental Marriage in Late Medieval English Literature

A model of marriage derived from Saint Augustine and codified in the 12th century held that the substance of the sacrament of marriage was the mutual love between the two members of the couple, rather than consummation. Lipton (English, U. of Missouri-Columbia) demonstrates how this model was used by an emergent lay middle strata of society in late medieval England to exploit inherent contradictions within medieval theology and social hierarchy, and to raise questions concerning both clerical and secular authority. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)