This book examines how sixteenth- and seventeenth-century writers used scenarios of masochism and cross-gender identification to explore the origins and limits of political allegiance. It offers a new understanding of the relationship between histories of gender, sexuality, politics, and literature. an exemplary piece of research a study, which, in brief, exhibits considerable range, shrewd, perceptive readings, and interpretations of literary-historical textual data, and well-informed and intelligent engagement with current critical debates.