Table of Contents

List of illustrations, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations, Notes on contributors, A Note on the Life, Preface, 1 Christina of Markyate: the introduction, 2 Christina of Markyate: the literary background, 3 St Albans and women’s monasticism: lives and their foundations in Christina’s world, 4 Christina of Markyate and the double crown, 5 The unknown pilgrim: drama and romance in the Life of Christina of Markyate, 6 The loves of Christina of Markyate, 7 The marriages of Christina of Markyate, 8 Ranulf Flambard and Christina of Markyate, 9 Dining at Markyate with Lady Christina, 10 Alternative intimacies: men, women and spiritual direction in the twelfth century, 11 Christina’s tempting: sexual desire and women’s sanctity, 12 The St Albans Psalter: the abbot and the anchoress, 13 The Life of St Alexis, 475–1125, 14 Christina of Markyate and the hermits and anchorites of England, List of sites and hermits, Select bibliography, Index of names and places