Roman Homosexuality. Ideologies of Masculinity in Classical Antiquity.

Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford, 1999. XII,395,(8)p. ills. Imitation leather bound.Signature on free endpaper. A few light, erasable pencil annotations. Nice copy. 'The early chapters are the best. On the basis of literary sources Williams contends (pp. 18-19) that Roman male sexuality centered on three 'traditional protocols governing sexual practices': first, 'a self-respecting Roman man must always give the appearance of playing the insertive role in penetrative acts, and not the receptive role'; second, 'apart from his wife, freeborn Romans were officially off-limits [as] sexual partners for a Roman man'; and third, 'less of a rule than a tendency pervading the ancient sources: a noticeable proclivity toward smooth young bodies.' This book, which will be widely consulted and cited, has much to recommend it. Williams provides a good bibliography, and his index of sources is helpful; by contrast, the general index is inadequate (e.g., no entry for Laronia, Juvenal 2.45-47). Beyond this, his forthright deliberation is welcome, even as he clears away much of the prejudicial dead thought that has long encumbered scholarship on this difficult theme. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Williams has provided the final word on any subject he discusses. Rather, more modestly, he has prepared the ground for much future research, although this in itself is a signal service. But what remains to be seen is whether Roman social historians will soon or ever be able to dispense with the concept of homosexuality.' (BRUCE W. FRIER in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 1999.11.05).