A History of Celibacy
In this spirited & provocative history, Elizabeth Abbott examines celibacy over the span of 3,000 years . . . shaping religious lives, conditioning athletes & shamans, surfacing in classical poetry & camp literature, resonating in the voices of castrati, & permeating ancient mythology. As central to human nature as sex, celibacy has as many stories as adherents, & Abbott weaves them into a seamless tapestry that brings history alive.