A History of the Wife
by Marilyn Yalom
Book Summary Information
Author: Marilyn YalomEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-02-01
ISBN: 0060931566
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of A History of the Wife
Book Review: A fascinating survey of married women through history
Summary: 4 Stars
Drawing on a wealth of diverse sources, from the Bible to the unpublished letters and diaries of women down the centuries, Marilyn Yalom has produced a highly readable account of marriage through the ages. One of the most noticable features of her work is that, from biblical times until the middle of the 20th century, the position of women in marriage hardly altered. The medieval wife, under the rule of her husband and forever called upon to support his ventures, would have been able to recognise the 1930s' 'angel in the house' whose prime function (as far as her husband was concerned) was to keep house and produce children.
The drawback with this study starts in Yalom's coverage of the 19th century, when she focuses almost exclusively on the lives of American women. On entering the 20th century, it is as if the First World War never happened as she launches straight into the changing roles of women during and after the Second World War.
Despite this, A History of the Wife is intelligently written and will be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about the experience and representation of married women thoughout history.
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