Acknowledgements
Introduction
Life of an 'unfortunate king'
Writing Edward II's narrative
Reading Edward II's narrative
Structure
Chapter 1 - Riot, Sodomy, and Minions: The Ambiguous Discourse of Sexual Transgression
Introduction
Riot
Sodomy
Minions
Conclusion
Chapter 2 - From Goats to Ganymedes: The Development of Edward II's Sexual Reputation
Introduction
Lechery and goats
Sexualized stock phrases
Ganymede
The role of Marlowe
Conclusion
Chapter 3 - Edward II and Piers Gaveston: Brothers, Friends, Lovers
Introduction
Brotherhood and friendship
Romanticizing Edward and Gaveston
Conclusion
Chapter 4 - 'Is it not strange that he is thus bewitch'd?': Edward II's Agency and Culpability
Introduction
Unsuitable companions
Agency in attraction
Political agency
Evil counsel - or evil nature?
Conclusion
Chapter 5 - Edward II as Political Exemplum
Introduction
Polemical invocations
Other political allusions
Conclusion
Chapter 6 - 'No escape now from a life full of suffering': Edward II's Sensational Fall
Introduction
Deposition
Imprisonment
Edward's story as de casibus narrative
Conclusion
Chapter 7 - Beyond Sexual Mimesis: The Penetrative Murder of Edward II
Introduction
Development of a consensus
Precedents for penetration
Sexual mimesis
Pain and torture
Marlowe's murder scene
Conclusion
Conclusion: The Literary Transformation of History
Introduction
Illuminating Marlowe
Literary transformations
Appendix: Accounts of and allusions to Edward II's reign, composed 1305-1697
Introduction
Index