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The Spirits of Crossbones Graveyard: Time, Ritual, and Sexual Commerce in London
Sondra L. Hausner
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Description for The Spirits of Crossbones Graveyard: Time, Ritual, and Sexual Commerce in London
Paperback. Num Pages: 250 pages, 10 b&w illus. BIC Classification: 1DBKESL; HBTB; HRLM7; JFMX; JHMC. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 5817 x 3887 x 18. Weight in Grams: 323.
Every month, a ragtag group of Londoners gather in the site known as Crossbones Graveyard to commemorate the souls of medieval prostitutes believed to be buried there-the Winchester Geese, women who were under the protection of the Church but denied Christian burial. In the Borough of Southwark, not far from Shakespeare's Globe, is a pilgrimage site for self-identified misfits, nonconformists, and contemporary sex workers who leave memorials to the outcast dead. Ceremonies combining raucous humor and eclectic spirituality are led by a local playwright, John Constable, also known as John Crow. His interpretation of the history of the site has struck a chord with many who feel alienated in present-day London. Sondra L. Hausner offers a nuanced ethnography of Crossbones that tacks between past and present to look at the historical practices of sex work, the relation of the Church to these professions, and their representation in the present. She draws on anthropological approaches to ritual and time to understand the forms of spiritual healing conveyed by the Crossbones rites. She shows that ritual is a way of creating the present by mobilizing the stories of the past for contemporary purposes.
Product Details
Publisher
Indiana University Press
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2016
Condition
New
Weight
322 g
Number of Pages
250
Place of Publication
Bloomington, IN, United States
ISBN
9780253021366
SKU
V9780253021366
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 7 to 11 working days
Ref
99-50
About Sondra L. Hausner
Sondra L. Hausner is Associate Professor in the Study of Religion, St. Peter's College, at the University of Oxford.
Reviews for The Spirits of Crossbones Graveyard: Time, Ritual, and Sexual Commerce in London
Hausner's is an affectionate and sympathetic portrayal of the Crossbones ritualists, and it is excellent to see this tradition receiving scholarly attention
Reading Religion
This monograph would be best for people grounded in anthropology, religion, and English history, but offers many insights to nonexperts. It would be a good addition to any university library.
Religion and Gender
Reading Religion
This monograph would be best for people grounded in anthropology, religion, and English history, but offers many insights to nonexperts. It would be a good addition to any university library.
Religion and Gender