Medieval LOLs: Fabliaux

Fabliaux were short, witty tales originating in northern France between the 12th and 14th centuries, often featuring crafty characters in rustic settings and overwhelmingly concerned with money and sex. In this episode Irina and Mary look at two of these comic verses, both containing surprisingly explicit sexual language, and consider the ways in which they influenced Boccaccio, Chaucer and others. Read more in the LRB: Irina Dumitrescu: Making My Moan https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n09/irina-dumitrescu/making-my-moan Tom Shippey: Women beware midwives https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v12/n09/tom-shippey/women-beware-midwives Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk