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Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage Paperback – February 28, 2006

by Stephanie Coontz (Author)

108 customer reviews

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Just when the clamor over "traditional" marriage couldn’t get any louder, along comes this groundbreaking book to ask, "What tradition?" In Marriage, a History, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes readers from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the torments of Victorian lovers to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is—and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors. It was when marriage moved into the emotional sphere in the nineteenth century, she argues, that it suffered as an institution just as it began to thrive as a personal relationship. This enlightening and hugely entertaining book brings intelligence, perspective, and wit to today’s marital debate.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brilliant and invariably provocative. . . . Pick a favourite presumption and Ms.Coontz proceeds to unravel the mythical conceit."

From the Back Cover

"Provocative, erudite and entertaining. What makes this book so important is its honesty and courage. It raises the important debates about marriage in America to a higher level."
Chicago Tribune

"Engrossing. . . Coontz is at the top of her writing game here."
The Seattle Times

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Product details

Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (February 28, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780143036678
ISBN-13: 978-0143036678
ASIN: 014303667X
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 108 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Sociology > Marriage & Family
- #175 in Books > History > World > Women in History
- #225 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Gender Studies

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Ron P.

Great read, if a little ponderous.

September 16, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a fascinating read for anyone who ever wondered what marriage and interpersonal relationships in the western world looked like 100, 200, 300 years ago. We tend to operate under the assumption that the institution has always served pretty much the same purposes it does today, but Coontz's book shows that nothing could be further from the truth. Marriage, in fact, has served so many varied economic, cultural, political and personal purposes over the centuries that it makes one wonder why people today get so worked up over gay marriage and other changes which continue to reflect the changing mores of western culture. That said, the first half of the book is a bit of a slog; the author giving far too many examples of little known historical characters and the oddities of their marriages. It picks up in the second half (I'm just now getting into that part) where she talks about changes brought about in the early 20th century by the industrial revolution and heightened expectations on the part of women at the end of the Victorian era. This part of the book is just easier to relate to by someone born mid-century like myself.

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Michelle Martin

A Very Interesting and Vitally Important Read!

September 15, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read a quote from this book that someone posted on social media in response to the normal clamor about "traditional marriage." I was immediately in awe of this author, so much in awe in fact that I bought the book immediately and spent the next several days reading it. Coontz is an excellent writer and her research is exhaustive. This may be a non-fiction book, and I'm going to guess is used as a textbook in some courses, but it reads almost like a novel. I learned things about marriage -- its roots, function and current influences on modern-day relationships that I'd never heard of in my entire undergraduate and graduate careers! This is a must read book for anyone who is ever tempted to utter the words "traditional marriage" (or for anyone who is tempted to respond to such utterances). You may not like what you read, but truth is truth...and an interesting truth (about the history of marriage) it is. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

6 people found this helpful

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papa_smurf

This book is the book to read if you want to understand the history of marriage.

July 8, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Wow what a great book. I usually don't write much reviews for books or items that I buy on amazon but this book definitely warrants one. After reading this book I am absolutely blown away what I had learned and read. Stephanie Coontz has devoted her life to research of society and additionally spent over a decade researching marriage alone. I was shocked to learn that marrying for love, let alone as the primary reason, was a relatively new idea in human society. If you really want to understand what marriage was and what marriage is today then this book will give you the understanding. She clearly states that she's not in the business to project where marriage is going in the future. Also, the author definitely is NOT giving marriage advice. She states from beginning that as a historian her goal and profession, like her fellow historians, is to see where marriage was in the earliest of times to where we are now.

As man in modern society again I am humbled to what I have learned and I sparked interest in friends and family into reading this book. The men and women I told about this book have different political, religious and culture backgrounds. To me that's saying enough about this book to grant that type of respect. Thank you Stephanie Coontz for devoting your time and energy into your career and into writing this book. Your book has definitely changed my attitude and understanding into the deep significance of marriage over the many, many years.

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Franklin the Mouse

Let's Make A Deal

August 30, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Speaking as a 51-year-old man who has been happily married for 28 years and raising two sons, Ms. Coontz's trip through the evolution of marriage was very helpful, reassuring and illuminating. Almost from the onset of our marriage back in 1983, friends told us we had an "unconventional" relationship. When in reality, we were just a little ahead of the curve. Our relationship is based on trust, mutual respect and a commitment to working through the inevitable problems that will arise from living with another person. Unlike authors of countless, silly marriage advice books, Ms. Coontz is a historian who did the homework in researching the evolution of marriage. The Ozzie-and-Harriet template that many people view as how "traditional" marriages were through most of history before the radical 1960s shot everything to hell is simply pure bunk. The author is to be commended for explaining how marriage is an ever-evolving institution since its early inception and will continue to do so well after you and I are worm food. In over 30 years, I've read a boatload of material about different historical periods and Ms. Coontz's assessment rings true. This well-written, entertaining work helped put this peculiar institution into proper perspective. It was very therapeutic. Whatever stage of life you are in, do yourself and favor and read Ms. Coontz's book.

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