This collection pits the ‘walk’ (what happened in practice) against the ‘talk’ (the theories, preferences, and biases of thinkers and commentators) which gives students and researchers the full picture of where these case studies sit within the broader framework of ‘others’.

Deviance and difference are a growing field and this collection draws the latest work being done from across the premodern world. Providing students and researchers with the state of the field and new examples to inform their own work.

The case studies in this collection are archivally-based, not issues-driven. They have been consciously collected as ‘aspect’ case studies to increase the readers understanding of difference in the premodern world.