When has using the term "lesbian" not been considered an anachronistic gesture? This question lies at the heart of this important new collection of essays. The Lesbian Premodern engages key scholars in lesbian studies and queer theory in an innovative conversation in print. Transgressing traditional period boundaries, The Lesbian Premodern scholars to pay full attention to significant and often overlooked theoretical, empirical, and textual work on female same-sex desire and identity in premodern cultures. This provocative book offers a radical new methodology for writing theories and histories of sexuality.