{"product_id":"unquiet-lives-marriage-and-marriage-breakdown-in-england-1660-1800","title":"Unquiet Lives: Marriage and Marriage Breakdown in England, 1660-1800","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of Unquiet Lives finds it essential reading for historians and serious students of early modern Britain who want a richer, less sentimental view of marriage in the long eighteenth century. Dr. Joanne Bailey uses vivid court records and contemporary advertisements to challenge established narratives, and the single biggest reason to buy is the book's insistence on seeing marriage as a site of negotiation, co-dependency and changing cultural attitudes toward sexuality and violence rather than as a static legal institution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary sources:\u003c\/strong\u003e Draws on court records and newspaper advertisements to give readers direct access to contemporaneous voices and social practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNew interpretation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Challenges traditional views of married life by revealing the extent of co-dependency and negotiation between spouses.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScope of change:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traces evolving attitudes toward adultery and domestic violence, showing how cultural shifts shaped household power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHousehold focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reframes power in marriage by examining everyday interactions inside the household rather than only formal legal arrangements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReadable analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents complex evidence and argument in a way that is accessible to advanced undergraduates and general readers interested in social history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at readers of \u003cstrong\u003eearly modern British history\u003c\/strong\u003e, social historians, and graduate students looking for rigorous source-based reinterpretation of marriage and family life between 1660 and 1800. It will also appeal to scholars of gender, law and culture who want a study that connects courtroom testimony to broader cultural shifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a brief survey or a general-interest popular history may prefer a shorter overview; this work is best for those prepared to engage with primary evidence and careful scholarly argument rather than a light summary of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLeverages rich primary sources to provide concrete, sometimes surprising examples of marital negotiation and conflict.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eOffers a convincing reinterpretation of household power that will prompt further research and teaching.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHandles sensitive topics like adultery and domestic violence with analytical care, linking them to cultural change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScholarly tone and dense use of court material may demand concentration from casual readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnquiet Lives: Marriage and Marriage Breakdown in England, 1660-1800\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDr. Joanne Bailey\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCambridge Studies in Early Modern British History\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngland\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeriod covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1660 to 1800\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary evidence\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCourt records and newspaper advertisements\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnquiet Lives is a valuable, evidence-driven study for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of marriage and household power in eighteenth-century England; its careful use of primary sources makes it good value for students and scholars who want a corrective to older narratives about family life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book use primary sources?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The study draws extensively on court records and newspaper advertisements to support its arguments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is the author?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is written by Dr. Joanne Bailey, a scholar of early modern British social history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat themes does it emphasize?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt emphasizes marital co-dependency, changing attitudes to adultery and domestic violence, and evolving household power between 1660 and 1800.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dr. Joanne Bailey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48763450491099,"sku":"0521810582","price":131.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71stFMLZ-PL._SL1360.jpg?v=1778512193","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/unquiet-lives-marriage-and-marriage-breakdown-in-england-1660-1800","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}