A History Of The Wife by Marilyn Yalom

a history of the 

Wife

by

Marilyn Yalom

This easily read non fiction book is full of very interesting social history facts.  The author touches on many historical time frames and cultures but concentrates on the story of women from medieval times in Western Europe to the experience of wives throughout the history of the United States.  She covers the evolution of expectations,  laws,  sexuality,  birth control and economics.  While most of her sources from the earlier times are documentation left by more elite women the author does explain what she has been able to piece together of the experience of more common women.  She explores the reasons people did and do get married.  Her conclusion being that romantic love is not an adequate basis for marriage and has only been a consideration for the last couple hundred years.   She points out that children are a stressor in marriage and while in the past people stayed married because of children,  they do not  as often anymore.   The things to consider in choosing a marriage partner  are many and while love in one of them it is not more important than economics,  shared values,  common beliefs, and wanting the same things out of life.  I highly recommend this book as one that should be read by all people contemplating marriage.  It made me realize, once again,  how lucky I am to be a women in this time and place.  Please click on the book title and author's name above to follow links to more information and enjoy the video that follows.