BOOK REVIEW: Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage

BOOK REVIEW: Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage

My 5-star review of a relatable, understandable history book, explaining why and how people married–from the most ancient of earth’s societies–to today. Coontz not only presents the facts in an entertaining, meaningful manner, but she draws conclusions only a historical of her caliber can, making the reading (or listening) experience ever so much more informative and helpful. Whether you’re fascinated on a purely intellectual level, love history, or are researching when and how marriage became a matter of choice between the couple (and only the couple) involved…I recommend this title!

Charlotte Smith Demands National Legislation to Require Matrimony

Charlotte Smith Demands National Legislation to Require Matrimony

I endorse newspaper articles as an original source in researching Victorian-era America. Yet while I trust–for the most part–newspaper articles to be a reasonable representation of attitudes, circumstances, happenings, and differing opinions, I’m well aware that not everything in print is fact…at least as presented.

I came across newspaper articles mentioning Mrs. Charlotte Smith, presented as a rather ridiculous woman seeking legislation to force marriage upon the matrimony unencumbered. Three such articles follow, all of which are from credible, well-respected newspapers of the late nineteenth century. At the bottom, I’ll share more of who Mrs. Charlotte Smith was, the platforms she supported, the work she did–and cast an entirely different light on her nature than these newspaper reporters suggest.