Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages

Magic and Impotence in the Middle Ages investigates the widely held medieval belief that magic could cause sexual dysfunction. It focuses mainly on the period 1150-1450, and compares sources from four genres: confessors' manuals, medical compendia, canon law commentaries, and commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard. This comparison shows that ideas about the definition and legitimacy of magic were surprisingly varied, and also reveals much new information about popular magical practices.